Trump, Biden and Harris to head to Georgia for high-stakes run-off vote

US President Donald Trump and president-elect Joe Biden will head to Georgia in the coming days to campaign before a vote that will decide which party controls the Senate for the next two years.

Kamala Harris, the vice president-elect, is campaigning for Democrats in Savannah on Sunday. The next day, Mr Biden will appear in the state capital Atlanta and Mr Trump will lead a rally for the Republican candidates in Dalton.

In a tweet on Wednesday, Ms Harris urged Georgians to “get out and vote” for the two Democratic candidates in an unusual double run-off, saying it is “within our power to change the course of our country’s history”.

On January 5, Georgia voters will choose between Republican senator David Perdue and his Democratic challenger Jon Ossoff, and Republican senator Kelly Loeffler and Democrat Raphael Warnock.

None of the candidates got more than 50 per cent in the November 3 general election, leading to a run-off that has garnered national attention thanks to a knife-edge balance of power in the 100-seat US Senate.

If the Democrats win both Georgia races, the Senate would be split 50-50 with Republicans, giving the tiebreaking vote to Mr Biden’s deputy in his incoming administration, Ms Harris, and control of both chambers to the Democrats.

A double win for Democrats in Georgia would make it easier for Mr Biden to pass laws on immigration, healthcare and other parts of his legislative agenda once he takes control of the White House on January 20.

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Millions of Georgians have already cast ballots in the run-offs and record-breaking sums of hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent on campaigns. Polling in both races is tight, meaning the chances of a double-Democrat win are slim.

In the November 3 general election, the Georgia results were so close that it took 10 days for television networks to project Mr Biden had won the state. The results of the senate run-off votes could be similarly slow, analysts say.

The National takes a look at the four candidates:

David Perdue, 71, is the former chief executive of Reebok athletic brand and a retail chain and one of the wealthiest congressmen. He joined the Senate in 2014 with a desire to "shake up Washington" and is one of Mr Trump's "closest allies", he says on his website.

Jon Ossoff, 33, is a documentary filmmaker and investigative journalist who has never held public office. He promises to work to improve healthcare, increase clean energy production and roll back the damage of the Trump era.

Kelly Loeffler, 50, was appointed to her Senate seat last year to serve out the unfinished term of former senator Johnny Isakson. She describes herself as a conservative businesswoman, a political outsider and a Trump loyalist who will fight "radical socialism".

Raphael Warnock, 51, is the pastor of a well-known African-American church in Atlanta where Martin Luther King used to preach. He says he will work to improve health care and fight for struggling Georgia families.

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UAE v Hong Kong

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Winners

Best Men's Player of the Year: Kylian Mbappe (PSG)

Maradona Award for Best Goal Scorer of the Year: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)

TikTok Fans’ Player of the Year: Robert Lewandowski

Top Goal Scorer of All Time: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)

Best Women's Player of the Year: Alexia Putellas (Barcelona)

Best Men's Club of the Year: Chelsea

Best Women's Club of the Year: Barcelona

Best Defender of the Year: Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus/Italy)

Best Goalkeeper of the Year: Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG/Italy)

Best Coach of the Year: Roberto Mancini (Italy)

Best National Team of the Year: Italy

Best Agent of the Year: Federico Pastorello

Best Sporting Director of the Year: Txiki Begiristain (Manchester City)

Player Career Award: Ronaldinho

While you're here

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RESULTS

5pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
Winner: Yas Xmnsor, Sean Kirrane (jockey), Khalifa Al Neyadi (trainer)

5.30pm: Falaj Hazza – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Arim W’Rsan, Dane O’Neill, Jaci Wickham

6pm: Al Basrah – Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,800m
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6.30pm: Oud Al Touba – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,800m
Winner: Pharitz Oubai, Sean Kirrane, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami

7pm: Sieh bin Amaar – Conditions (PA) Dh80,000 (D) 1,800m
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7.30pm: Jebel Hafeet – Conditions (PA) Dh85,000 (D) 2,000m
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8pm: Al Saad – Handicap (TB) Dh70,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Sea Skimmer, Gabriele Malune, Kareem Ramadan

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Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
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On Women's Day

Dr Nawal Al-Hosany: Why more women should be on the frontlines of climate action

Shelina Janmohamed: Why shouldn't a spouse be compensated fairly for housework?

Justin Thomas: Challenge the notion that 'men are from Mars, women are from Venus'

The National Editorial: Is there much to celebrate on International Women's Day 2021?

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat

Company profile

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Founders: Omer Gurel, chief executive and co-founder and Edebali Sener, co-founder and chief technology officer

Based: Dubai Media City

Number of employees: 42 (34 in Dubai and a tech team of eight in Ankara, Turkey)

Sector: ConsumerTech and FinTech

Cashflow: Almost $1 million a year

Funding: Series A funding of $2.5m with Series B plans for May 2020

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Gran Gala del Calcio 2019 winners

Best Player: Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus)
Best Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini (Atalanta)
Best Referee: Gianluca Rocchi
Best Goal: Fabio Quagliarella (Sampdoria vs Napoli)
Best Team: Atalanta
Best XI: Samir Handanovic (Inter); Aleksandar Kolarov (Roma), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Kalidou Koulibaly (Napoli), Joao Cancelo (Juventus*); Miralem Pjanic (Juventus), Josip Ilicic (Atalanta), Nicolo Barella (Cagliari*); Fabio Quagliarella (Sampdoria), Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus), Duvan Zapata (Atalanta)
Serie B Best Young Player: Sandro Tonali (Brescia)
Best Women’s Goal: Thaisa (Milan vs Juventus)
Best Women’s Player: Manuela Giugliano (Milan)
Best Women’s XI: Laura Giuliani (Milan); Alia Guagni (Fiorentina), Sara Gama (Juventus), Cecilia Salvai (Juventus), Elisa Bartoli (Roma); Aurora Galli (Juventus), Manuela Giugliano (Roma), Valentina Cernoia (Juventus); Valentina Giacinti (Milan), Ilaria Mauro (Fiorentina), Barbara Bonansea (Juventus)

Generational responses to the pandemic

Devesh Mamtani from Century Financial believes the cash-hoarding tendency of each generation is influenced by what stage of the employment cycle they are in. He offers the following insights:

Baby boomers (those born before 1964): Owing to market uncertainty and the need to survive amid competition, many in this generation are looking for options to hoard more cash and increase their overall savings/investments towards risk-free assets.

Generation X (born between 1965 and 1980): Gen X is currently in its prime working years. With their personal and family finances taking a hit, Generation X is looking at multiple options, including taking out short-term loan facilities with competitive interest rates instead of dipping into their savings account.

Millennials (born between 1981 and 1996): This market situation is giving them a valuable lesson about investing early. Many millennials who had previously not saved or invested are looking to start doing so now.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

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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