A divided US Senate on Sunday narrowly advanced President Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett, setting up her contentious but certain final confirmation on Monday, only eight days before the presidential election.
In a rare weekend session, the Senate's Republican majority overcame a filibuster by Democrats, and Ms Barrett's nomination cleared a procedural hurdle, 51 votes to 48, to limit debate on Mr Trump's nominee.
Ms Barrett's nomination process, which would essentially lock in a 6-to-3 conservative majority on the high court, has moved with uncommon speed.
Mr Trump, who is trailing in polls against his Democratic challenger Joe Biden, said he wants the 48-year-old Ms Barrett confirmed before the November 3 election and in place in the event the court has to hear an election-related challenge.
Two Republican senators, Susan Collins who faces a tough re-election fight in Maine, and Alaska's Lisa Murkowski, voted against moving forward after saying in recent weeks that they opposed confirming a justice so close to a presidential election.
But in a turnabout on Saturday, Ms Murkowski told colleagues that even though she opposed her fellow Republicans' rush to fill the seat vacated by the liberal icon Ruth Bader Ginsburg, she would ultimately vote to confirm Ms Barrett, given that there was no chance of blocking the process.
"Frankly," she said, "I lost that procedural fight."
Ms Murkowski said that while she does "oppose" the exceedingly rapid process that led to Ms Barrett's nomination, she does "not hold it against her as an individual" and will vote for her confirmation.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell prioritised the confirmation process over all other Senate business, including a new bill to provide relief to millions of Americans, and companies and local authorities hit hard by the coronavirus.
Democrats have issued a warning that Ms Barrett would end up voting to gut Obamacare, which has helped millions of Americans gain health insurance, and perhaps overturn Roe v Wade, the landmark 1973 decision protecting abortion rights.
Chuck Schumer, the Senate's top Democrat, on Sunday called the push to confirm a justice so close to an election a "travesty" and "an in-erasable stain on this Republican majority forever more."
ENGLAND SQUAD
Goalkeepers Henderson, Pickford, Pope.
Defenders Alexander-Arnold, Chilwell, Coady, Dier, Gomez, Keane, Maguire, Maitland-Niles, Mings, Saka, Trippier, Walker.
Midfielders Henderson, Mount, Phillips, Rice, Ward-Prowse, Winks.
Forwards Abraham, Barnes, Calvert-Lewin, Grealish, Ings, Kane, Rashford, Sancho, Sterling.
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Iron Man
Reduced risk of dementia
Alcohol consumption could be an issue
Hulk
Cardiac disease, stroke and dementia from high heart rate
Spider-Man
Agility reduces risk of falls
Increased risk of obesity and mental health issues
Black Panther
Vegetarian diet reduces obesity
Unknown risks of potion drinking
Black Widow
Childhood traumas increase risk of mental illnesses
Thor
He's a god
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
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Gulf Under 19s final
Dubai College A 50-12 Dubai College B
T20 World Cup Qualifier, Muscat
UAE FIXTURES
Friday February 18: v Ireland
Saturday February 19: v Germany
Monday February 21: v Philippines
Tuesday February 22: semi-finals
Thursday February 24: final
Results:
Men's wheelchair 800m T34: 1. Walid Ktila (TUN) 1.44.79; 2. Mohammed Al Hammadi (UAE) 1.45.88; 3. Isaac Towers (GBR) 1.46.46.
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.
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
