US Vice President Mike Pence and his Democratic challenger Kamala Harris squared off in a Wednesday evening debate, separated by plexiglass, only weeks before the November 3 general election.
As US President Donald Trump is infected with the coronavirus that has already killed more than 210,000 Americans, the Pence-Harris showdown has taken on an unusually pressing quality.
Ms Harris opened the debate with a bruising critique of the Trump-Pence administration's handling of the coronavirus epidemic.
"This is the greatest failure of any administration in the history of our country," she said.
"They knew and they covered it up. The president called it a hoax."
Mr Pence insisted the president had "put the health of America first" and praised the US move to close flights from China.
He slammed Ms Harris for questioning whether a vaccine released by the Trump administration could be trusted.
"The fact that you continue to undermine public confidence in a vaccine, if the vaccine emerges during the Trump administration, I think is unconscionable," Mr Pence said.
The White House has mounted political pressure on the Food and Drug Administration, objecting to stricter guidelines proposed for emergency approval of a coronavirus vaccine. It is unlikely any manufacturer will receive authorisation before the election.
While the candidates offered pointed jabs throughout the night, the event was notably tamer and more disciplined than the presidential debate held last week that was marked by interruptions from Mr Trump.
Interruptions in the vice presidential debate were largely sparse, but a number of fiery exchanges took place. Ms Harris' sharp and sceptical glances at Mr Pence also caught the attention of social media.
Foreign policy
A heated exchange on foreign policy began when Ms Harris slammed the Trump administration's policy as being "unilateral" and focused on "isolation".
She said the US withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal meant the US was "in a position where we are less safe because they [Iran] are building up what might end up being a significant nuclear arsenal."
Ms Harris also noted that the US president downplayed the brain damage that US soldiers suffered as a result of retaliatory strikes on US troops in Iraq after the killing of Iranian general Qassem Suleimani.
"They suffered serious brain injuries and Trump dismissed them as headaches," she said.
On the day two alleged members of an ISIS assassination squad, known as "The Beatles", appeared in a US court, the case of Kayla Mueller was highlighted during the debate. The parents of the US humanitarian worker, who was kidnapped by ISIS in 2013 and killed two years later, were present at the debate.
Mr Pence said her parents believed Mueller would be alive had Mr Trump handled the case and blasted the Obama and Biden administration for failing to save her.
The Obama administration was staunch in its vow not to negotiate with terrorists, but it did make attempts to rescue Mueller.
Racial tensions
During last week's presidential debate, the president sparked backlash when he failed to condemn the growing number of white supremacist groups in the US.
A different tone was struck by Mr Pence, who said both he and the US president denounce white supremacists as he confirmed the Republican party's support for law enforcement, calling the summer protests against racial injustice in the US a "great insult" to police officers.
Ms Harris noted her long history as a prosecutor when she responded, "I will not sit here and be lectured by the vice president on what it means to enforce the laws of our country."
"I know what I'm talking about, bad cops are bad for good cops. We need reform."
Supreme Court
One of the most heated exchanges of the night occurred when Mr Pence assailed Democrats for attempting to "pack the court," with more judges.
Ms Harris promptly flipped this issue on the vice president, noting that "of the 50 people who President Trump appointed to the court of appeals for lifetime appointments, not one is Black."
Following the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the Republican Party has rushed to push Amy Coney Barrett to fill the empty seat, thereby securing that the country's top court would be favourable to Republican policy.
Mr Pence attempted to put Judge Barrett's Christian faith at the centre of the Supreme Court debate by condemning attacks from Democrats on her religion, but Ms Harris firmly replied, "it's insulting to suggest we would knock anyone for their faith".
She said the Republican Party hoped to use the courts to strike down the Affordable Care Act during a time when the country is in a national health crisis.
Ms Harris was resolute that Republicans appointing a new justice to the lifetime appointment during an election year was unacceptable.
Trump diagnosis
They walked on stage from opposite side of the debate hall in Salt Lake City, Utah, as the country lurches from one crisis to another.
Not only has the president tested positive, coronavirus has spread through his inner circle, infecting dozens of aides, administration staff, senior military officials and Republican politicians.
Mr Trump, who is in the White House as he recovers from Covid-19, continued his all-out verbal offensive, calling Mr Biden "a wacko" in a stream of angry tweets posted since he left hospital on Monday.
The president is seeing poor polling numbers ahead of the November vote, which comes as the economy stutters from Covid-19 shutdowns that have left countless families and businesses struggling.
Mr Trump also keeps warning that he may not accept the election result, arguing that mail-in ballots lead to fraud, while Senate Republicans are rushing to confirm the president's Supreme Court nominee even as some in their caucus are in quarantine.
The unique political storm is enough for Brookings Institution senior fellow John Hudak to call Utah's face-off "the most important vice presidential debate in American history".
Mr Pence is under pressure to signal some stability and relay an administration plan for how to tackle the pandemic four weeks from election day.
"Vice President Mike Pence is ready. He is prepared to prosecute the case against the California radical extremist of Kamala Harris," Trump campaign adviser Mercedes Schlapp told Fox News, setting the tone for the debate.
"We know that Mike Pence will be able to also talk about the president's strong accomplishments on the economy and also on combating Covid."
There is little appetite, though, for a repeat of the Trump-Biden debate, which was marred by their constant interruptions and personal insults.
Wednesday's event has strengthened health measures, with organisers agreeing to allow Ms Harris to be separated from Mr Pence by plexiglass. Some of Mr Pence’s supporters had originally laughed at the measures, which were suggested by Ms Harris’s team.
Both participants have tested negative for coronavirus.
"If the Trump administration's war on masks has now become a war on safety shields, that tells you everything you need to know about why their Covid response is a failure," Ms Harris's press secretary Sabrina Singh said.
"Masks save lives," Ms Harris said on Twitter on Wednesday.
Still being treated for the coronavirus after three nights in hospital, Mr Trump has scrambled to resume his re-election campaign.
The latest polls forecast victory for Mr Biden, with CNN giving the Democrat a national advantage of 57 percent to 41 percent among likely voters.
White House doctors say he is recovering rapidly and Mr Trump is doubling down on his controversial position that Covid-19 is taken too seriously, painting himself as a fighter who took on the virus and won.
After urging Americans to stop fearing Covid-19 and "don't let it dominate you," he attacked the media for not paying more attention to what he said were his many successes.
Mr Trump and Mr Biden are scheduled to square off again on October 15, but the former vice president believes "if he [Trump] still has Covid, we shouldn't have a debate".
Boulder shooting victims
• Denny Strong, 20
• Neven Stanisic, 23
• Rikki Olds, 25
• Tralona Bartkowiak, 49
• Suzanne Fountain, 59
• Teri Leiker, 51
• Eric Talley, 51
• Kevin Mahoney, 61
• Lynn Murray, 62
• Jody Waters, 65
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENomad%20Homes%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2020%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EHelen%20Chen%2C%20Damien%20Drap%2C%20and%20Dan%20Piehler%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20UAE%20and%20Europe%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%20PropTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunds%20raised%20so%20far%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%2444m%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Acrew%20Capital%2C%2001%20Advisors%2C%20HighSage%20Ventures%2C%20Abstract%20Ventures%2C%20Partech%2C%20Precursor%20Ventures%2C%20Potluck%20Ventures%2C%20Knollwood%20and%20several%20undisclosed%20hedge%20funds%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
How to come clean about financial infidelity
- Be honest and transparent: It is always better to own up than be found out. Tell your partner everything they want to know. Show remorse. Inform them of the extent of the situation so they know what they are dealing with.
- Work on yourself: Be honest with yourself and your partner and figure out why you did it. Don’t be ashamed to ask for professional help.
- Give it time: Like any breach of trust, it requires time to rebuild. So be consistent, communicate often and be patient with your partner and yourself.
- Discuss your financial situation regularly: Ensure your spouse is involved in financial matters and decisions. Your ability to consistently follow through with what you say you are going to do when it comes to money can make all the difference in your partner’s willingness to trust you again.
- Work on a plan to resolve the problem together: If there is a lot of debt, for example, create a budget and financial plan together and ensure your partner is fully informed, involved and supported.
Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
SERIES INFO
Afghanistan v Zimbabwe, Abu Dhabi Sunshine Series
All matches at the Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Test series
1st Test: Zimbabwe beat Afghanistan by 10 wickets
2nd Test: Wednesday, 10 March – Sunday, 14 March
Play starts at 9.30am
T20 series
1st T20I: Wednesday, 17 March
2nd T20I: Friday, 19 March
3rd T20I: Saturday, 20 March
TV
Supporters in the UAE can watch the matches on the Rabbithole channel on YouTube
The%20specs
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FIGHT%20CARD
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
WHAT%20IS%20THE%20LICENSING%20PROCESS%20FOR%20VARA%3F
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Young women have more “financial grit”, but fall behind on investing
In an October survey of young adults aged 16 to 25, Charles Schwab found young women are more driven to reach financial independence than young men (67 per cent versus. 58 per cent). They are more likely to take on extra work to make ends meet and see more value than men in creating a plan to achieve their financial goals. Yet, despite all these good ‘first’ measures, they are investing and saving less than young men – falling early into the financial gender gap.
While the women surveyed report spending 36 per cent less than men, they have far less savings than men ($1,267 versus $2,000) – a nearly 60 per cent difference.
In addition, twice as many young men as women say they would invest spare cash, and almost twice as many young men as women report having investment accounts (though most young adults do not invest at all).
“Despite their good intentions, young women start to fall behind their male counterparts in savings and investing early on in life,” said Carrie Schwab-Pomerantz, senior vice president, Charles Schwab. “They start off showing a strong financial planning mindset, but there is still room for further education when it comes to managing their day-to-day finances.”
Ms Schwab-Pomerantz says parents should be conveying the same messages to boys and girls about money, but should tailor those conversations based on the individual and gender.
"Our study shows that while boys are spending more than girls, they also are saving more. Have open and honest conversations with your daughters about the wage and savings gap," she said. "Teach kids about the importance of investing – especially girls, who as we see in this study, aren’t investing as much. Part of being financially prepared is learning to make the most of your money, and that means investing early and consistently."
Why%20all%20the%20lefties%3F
%3Cp%3ESix%20of%20the%20eight%20fast%20bowlers%20used%20in%20the%20ILT20%20match%20between%20Desert%20Vipers%20and%20MI%20Emirates%20were%20left-handed.%20So%2075%20per%20cent%20of%20those%20involved.%0D%3Cbr%3EAnd%20that%20despite%20the%20fact%2010-12%20per%20cent%20of%20the%20world%E2%80%99s%20population%20is%20said%20to%20be%20left-handed.%0D%3Cbr%3EIt%20is%20an%20extension%20of%20a%20trend%20which%20has%20seen%20left-arm%20pacers%20become%20highly%20valued%20%E2%80%93%20and%20over-represented%2C%20relative%20to%20other%20formats%20%E2%80%93%20in%20T20%20cricket.%0D%3Cbr%3EIt%20is%20all%20to%20do%20with%20the%20fact%20most%20batters%20are%20naturally%20attuned%20to%20the%20angles%20created%20by%20right-arm%20bowlers%2C%20given%20that%20is%20generally%20what%20they%20grow%20up%20facing%20more%20of.%0D%3Cbr%3EIn%20their%20book%2C%20%3Cem%3EHitting%20Against%20the%20Spin%3C%2Fem%3E%2C%20cricket%20data%20analysts%20Nathan%20Leamon%20and%20Ben%20Jones%20suggest%20the%20advantage%20for%20a%20left-arm%20pace%20bowler%20in%20T20%20is%20amplified%20because%20of%20the%20obligation%20on%20the%20batter%20to%20attack.%0D%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%9CThe%20more%20attacking%20the%20batsman%2C%20the%20more%20reliant%20they%20are%20on%20anticipation%2C%E2%80%9D%20they%20write.%0D%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%9CThis%20effectively%20increases%20the%20time%20pressure%20on%20the%20batsman%2C%20so%20increases%20the%20reliance%20on%20anticipation%2C%20and%20therefore%20increases%20the%20left-arm%20bowler%E2%80%99s%20advantage.%E2%80%9D%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Meydan race card
6.30pm: Maiden Dh 165,000 1,600m
7.05pm: Handicap Dh 185,000 2,000m
7.40pm: Maiden Dh 165,000 1,600m
8.15pm: Handicap Dh 190,000 1,400m
8.50pm: Handicap Dh 175,000 1,600m
9.25pm: Handicap Dh 175,000 1,200m
10pm: Handicap Dh 165,000 1,600m
Temple numbers
Expected completion: 2022
Height: 24 meters
Ground floor banquet hall: 370 square metres to accommodate about 750 people
Ground floor multipurpose hall: 92 square metres for up to 200 people
First floor main Prayer Hall: 465 square metres to hold 1,500 people at a time
First floor terrace areas: 2,30 square metres
Temple will be spread over 6,900 square metres
Structure includes two basements, ground and first floor
Tell-tale signs of burnout
- loss of confidence and appetite
- irritability and emotional outbursts
- sadness
- persistent physical ailments such as headaches, frequent infections and fatigue
- substance abuse, such as smoking or drinking more
- impaired judgement
- excessive and continuous worrying
- irregular sleep patterns
Tips to help overcome burnout
Acknowledge how you are feeling by listening to your warning signs. Set boundaries and learn to say ‘no’
Do activities that you want to do as well as things you have to do
Undertake at least 30 minutes of exercise per day. It releases an abundance of feel-good hormones
Find your form of relaxation and make time for it each day e.g. soothing music, reading or mindful meditation
Sleep and wake at the same time every day, even if your sleep pattern was disrupted. Without enough sleep condition such as stress, anxiety and depression can thrive.
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Williams at Wimbledon
Venus Williams - 5 titles (2000, 2001, 2005, 2007 and 2008)
Serena Williams - 7 titles (2002, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2015 and 2016)
How to play the stock market recovery in 2021?
If you are looking to build your long-term wealth in 2021 and beyond, the stock market is still the best place to do it as equities powered on despite the pandemic.
Investing in individual stocks is not for everyone and most private investors should stick to mutual funds and ETFs, but there are some thrilling opportunities for those who understand the risks.
Peter Garnry, head of equity strategy at Saxo Bank, says the 20 best-performing US and European stocks have delivered an average return year-to-date of 148 per cent, measured in local currency terms.
Online marketplace Etsy was the best performer with a return of 330.6 per cent, followed by communications software company Sinch (315.4 per cent), online supermarket HelloFresh (232.8 per cent) and fuel cells specialist NEL (191.7 per cent).
Mr Garnry says digital companies benefited from the lockdown, while green energy firms flew as efforts to combat climate change were ramped up, helped in part by the European Union’s green deal.
Electric car company Tesla would be on the list if it had been part of the S&P 500 Index, but it only joined on December 21. “Tesla has become one of the most valuable companies in the world this year as demand for electric vehicles has grown dramatically,” Mr Garnry says.
By contrast, the 20 worst-performing European stocks fell 54 per cent on average, with European banks hit by the economic fallout from the pandemic, while cruise liners and airline stocks suffered due to travel restrictions.
As demand for energy fell, the oil and gas industry had a tough year, too.
Mr Garnry says the biggest story this year was the “absolute crunch” in so-called value stocks, companies that trade at low valuations compared to their earnings and growth potential.
He says they are “heavily tilted towards financials, miners, energy, utilities and industrials, which have all been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic”. “The last year saw these cheap stocks become cheaper and expensive stocks have become more expensive.”
This has triggered excited talk about the “great value rotation” but Mr Garnry remains sceptical. “We need to see a breakout of interest rates combined with higher inflation before we join the crowd.”
Always remember that past performance is not a guarantee of future returns. Last year’s winners often turn out to be this year’s losers, and vice-versa.
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
