US President Donald Trump and Democratic rival Joe Biden began their 90-minute head to head on Tuesday evening discussing the Supreme Court, in the first presidential debate in Cleveland, Ohio.
Although the debate was being watched by millions, the event had a small, socially distanced crowd because of the pandemic.
The candidates did not shake hands, in accordance with social distancing measures.
Here’s how it played out:
Supreme Court nominee
The debate’s moderator, Chris Wallace of Fox News, opened discussing Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett.
“We won the election, and therefore we have the right to choose her,” Mr Trump said.
“I think that she [Barrett] will be outstanding. She will be as good as anybody who has ever served on that court. We won the election and therefore we had the right to choose her,” Mr Trump said.
Mr Biden hit back saying that with the election ongoing already with early voting denying many a say in the process meaning it should wait until after the November 3 results.
“The American people have the right to have a say on who the Supreme Court justice. We should wait and see what the outcome of this election is. What is at stake as the president made it clear, is the president wants to get rid of the Affordable Care Act [Obamacare],” Mr Biden said. “I’m not opposed to the justice. She seems like a very fine person. But she’s written that she thinks the Affordable Care Act is unconstitutional. The president’s made it clear he wants to get rid of the Affordable Care Act. He’s been running on that.”
The pair moved on to health care with Mr Trump jibbing at his rival: “You want to socialise medicine like Bernie Sanders.”
Mr Trump is used to sparring with reporters and he kicked off Tuesday’s debate by using the same tactic he uses in the White House briefing room: interrupting.
He repeatedly interrupted or sought to talk over Mr Biden and the debate’s moderator, Wallace, during a discussion about the Supreme Court and the Affordable Care Act.
At times the debate split-screen showed the two candidates trying to talk over one another while Wallace spoke at the same time, pleading for clarity.
“Please let the vice president talk,” Wallace admonished Mr Trump during one of his interruptions after earlier making clear that he was the moderator. “Will you shut up, man?” Mr Biden eventually said to Mr Trump.
Mr Biden: “I’m not here to call out his lies – everyone knows he’s a liar.”
Coronavirus
“Joe, you could never have never done the job we did, you don’t have it in your blood,” Mr Trump told Mr Biden, saying that if he had been president more than two million would be dead. Mr Trump also accused Mr Biden of a poor track record on handling H1N1 swine flu while vice president.
“The president has no plan. He hasn’t laid out anything, he knew all the way back in February how serious this crisis was. He knew it was a deadly disease,” Mr Biden said.
Wallace pushed the president on the timeline for a vaccine while Mr Biden brought up previous statements by the president on ingesting bleach to cure Covid-19 or hoping it would disappear with warm weather.
“If you could get the crowds you would have done the same thing,” Mr Trump replied to Mr Biden when pushed on holding mass rallies during the pandemic.
“He didn’t want to close the economy. It would be two million dead with him – 200,000 is too many, one is too many … it should never have happened with this plague from China,” Mr Trump said of his rival. He repeated numerous previous talking points about lockdowns and accusing democrats of wanting to close the entire country “and destroy it”.
After enduring Mr Biden’s criticism of his coronavirus response, Mr Trump seized on a remark that his rival’s management of the crisis would be “smart”.
“Don’t ever use the word ‘smart’ with me,” Mr Trump said, accusing Mr Biden of forgetting where he went to college.
Mr Biden chuckled. “Oh, give me a break.”
“There’s nothing smart about you, Joe,” Mr Trump said.
It took only 40 minutes for Mr Biden to mention revelations this week by the New York Times, which published the president's financial records showing Mr Trump paid only $750 in tax.
Mr Trump tried to jump in to respond but Wallace cut him off, reminding the president that both candidates have the same allotted time.
But the moderator picked up the issue.
“Is it true you paid just $750 in federal income tax?” Wallace asked.
“I’ve paid millions in tax,” Mr Trump replied before extolling his financial solvency.
Wallace insisted Mr Trump clarify if the president paid only $750 in 2016 and 2017.
“I paid millions,” Mr Trump repeated. Mr Biden jumped in to ask when the president was going to release his tax returns, as is customary of candidates – but which Mr Trump has never done.
“When it’s ready,” Mr Trump replied.
Race
“You treated the African-American community about the worst of anyone … you called them super-predators – look back at your record over the years,” Mr Trump said of Mr Biden.
Asked whether he thought African-Americans face a different system of justice than white Americans, Mr Biden said there must be a system where officers are held accountable and good officers rejected the few “bad apples”, the same as anyone.
Wallace asked the president why he decided to end racial sensitivity training and whether he believes there is systemic racism. Mr Trump said the policy itself was racist and costly. “They were teaching people to hate our country and I’m not going to let that happen.”
Wallace also plans to discuss the two candidates’ records; the economy; racism and violence in US cities; and the integrity of the election.
Law and order
“Violent crime went down 17 per cent under our administration,” Mr Biden said of the Obama administration. “Went down much more in ours,” Mr Trump replied.
Wallace pointed out to Mr Trump that violent crime is on the rise in both Democratic and Republican cities, at which point the president pivoted to discussing shootings in Chicago.
Wallace asked Mr Biden what his proposal of “reimagining policing” means and whether he supports the Black Lives Matter movement.
“We need community policing like we had before – that’s when crime went down,” Mr Biden said, and clarified he is against defunding the police. Mr Trump pressed his rival: “He has no law enforcement support. Name one law enforcement group that came out and supported you,” he asked Mr Biden.
’Will you condemn white supremacists?’
Wallace said: “Are you willing to condemn white supremacists and militias and tell them they need to stand down?
The president said he was willing to do anything, asking Wallace for the name he wants condemning. Both Mr Biden and Mr Wallace chimed in: “Then do it”.
Wallace clarified: “White supremacists and right-wing militias.”
“Proud Boys, stand back and stand by but I tell you what someone needs to do something about Antifa,” he said, referring to the prominent far-right neo-fascist organisation and the movement to combat fascism.
Why vote for me?
Mr Biden said: “Under this president, we become weaker, sicker, poorer, more divided and more violent. When I was vice president, we inherited a recession, I was asked to fix it and I did we left him a booming economy and he wrecked it.”
Trump then cut the segment off, pressing Mr Biden on his son’s drug addiction and business dealings. Mr Biden said he was proud of his son Hunter Biden for overcoming addiction and pointed out investigations including by Republicans into his son’s business deals in Russia and China had found discredited reports he was handed millions.
Climate change
“If you look at our numbers, we’re doing phenomenally but we didn’t kill our businesses,” Mr Trump said.
He said the global Paris Accord on emissions was bad for America. Mr Trump said he wants to do all he can to ensure “crystal-clean water and air”.
Asked if he believes in the science regarding human-caused climate change Mr Trump said: “I think, to an extent, yes –but a lot of things do.”
Mr Biden said under him no one would build another coal or oil-fired power stations because renewables would be as cheap. “We can get to net zero in terms of electricity production by 2035 not costing jobs but creating jobs,” he said, and pledged to rejoin the Paris Accords.
Voting integrity
Mr Biden pointed out that there is no evidence of Mr Trump’s claims postal ballots are insecure. “Millions of people because of Covid who are going to be voting by mail-in ballot, like he does by the way – sits behind the Resolute Desk and sends his ballot to Florida,” Mr Biden said of Mr Trump.
“If I win that will be accepted, if I lose that will be accepted, when he says he’s not sure if he will accept that doesn’t matter because if we get the votes it doesn’t matter – he can’t stay in power,” Mr Biden said of the results.
“As far as the ballots are concerned it’s a disaster … there’s fraud, they found them in creeks, they found one – just happened to have the name Trump – in a waste paper basket,” Mr Trump said, reiterating his claims that the mail-in electoral system is open to tampering.
Mr Trump came under attack for his handling of the pandemic and for not handing over his tax returns.
The president has attracted criticism for his finances, after a bombshell report by The New York Times on Sunday reported he paid only $750 in federal income taxes in 2016 and 2017, and none in 10 of the previous 15 years, after years of reporting sharp losses from his businesses.
Increasing the pressure on Mr Trump, Mr Biden and his running mate Kamala Harris on Tuesday released their 2019 tax returns and urged the sitting president to do the same.
In the debate, Mr Trump challenged Mr Biden on law and order issues and his relationship with the Left of the Democratic Party.
Tonight’s meet was the first of four – with two more on October 15 and 22, and a vice-presidential debate on October 7.
Eighty-four million people watched the September 27, 2016, debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, reported Nielsen, which monitors TV ratings.
Speaking to MSNBC minutes before this debate, Ms Clinton said she planned to watch to see Mr Trump being held accountable for his first term as president.
“I’m going to watch it with real interest and a certain level of expectation because, unlike four years ago, Donald Trump now has a record,” she said.
The chef's advice
Troy Payne, head chef at Abu Dhabi’s newest healthy eatery Sanderson’s in Al Seef Resort & Spa, says singles need to change their mindset about how they approach the supermarket.
“They feel like they can’t buy one cucumber,” he says. “But I can walk into a shop – I feed two people at home – and I’ll walk into a shop and I buy one cucumber, I’ll buy one onion.”
Mr Payne asks for the sticker to be placed directly on each item, rather than face the temptation of filling one of the two-kilogram capacity plastic bags on offer.
The chef also advises singletons not get too hung up on “organic”, particularly high-priced varieties that have been flown in from far-flung locales. Local produce is often grown sustainably, and far cheaper, he says.
Score
Third Test, Day 2
New Zealand 274
Pakistan 139-3 (61 ov)
Pakistan trail by 135 runs with 7 wickets remaining in the innings
The biog
Favourite hobby: I love to sing but I don’t get to sing as much nowadays sadly.
Favourite book: Anything by Sidney Sheldon.
Favourite movie: The Exorcist 2. It is a big thing in our family to sit around together and watch horror movies, I love watching them.
Favourite holiday destination: The favourite place I have been to is Florence, it is a beautiful city. My dream though has always been to visit Cyprus, I really want to go there.
Who are the Soroptimists?
The first Soroptimists club was founded in Oakland, California in 1921. The name comes from the Latin word soror which means sister, combined with optima, meaning the best.
The organisation said its name is best interpreted as ‘the best for women’.
Since then the group has grown exponentially around the world and is officially affiliated with the United Nations. The organisation also counts Queen Mathilde of Belgium among its ranks.
What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
- A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
Zayed Sustainability Prize
The biog
Hobby: "It is not really a hobby but I am very curious person. I love reading and spend hours on research."
Favourite author: Malcom Gladwell
Favourite travel destination: "Antigua in the Caribbean because I have emotional attachment to it. It is where I got married."
2019 Asian Cup final
Japan v Qatar
Friday, 6pm
Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi
65
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TOP%2010%20MOST%20POLLUTED%20CITIES
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A meeting of young minds
The 3,494 entries for the 2019 Sharjah Children Biennial come from:
435 – UAE
2,000 – China
808 – United Kingdom
165 – Argentina
38 – Lebanon
16 – Saudi Arabia
16 – Bangladesh
6 – Ireland
3 – Egypt
3 – France
2 – Sudan
1 – Kuwait
1 – Australia
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
Company profile: buybackbazaar.com
Name: buybackbazaar.com
Started: January 2018
Founder(s): Pishu Ganglani and Ricky Husaini
Based: Dubai
Sector: FinTech, micro finance
Initial investment: $1 million
Zimbabwe v UAE, ODI series
All matches at the Harare Sports Club
- 1st ODI, Wednesday, April 10
- 2nd ODI, Friday, April 12
- 3rd ODI, Sunday, April 14
- 4th ODI, Sunday, April 16
Squads:
- UAE: Mohammed Naveed (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Shaiman Anwar, Mohammed Usman, CP Rizwan, Chirag Suri, Mohammed Boota, Ghulam Shabber, Sultan Ahmed, Imran Haider, Amir Hayat, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed
- Zimbabwe: Peter Moor (captain), Solomon Mire, Brian Chari, Regis Chakabva, Sean Williams, Timycen Maruma, Sikandar Raza, Donald Tiripano, Kyle Jarvis, Tendai Chatara, Chris Mpofu, Craig Ervine, Brandon Mavuta, Ainsley Ndlovu, Tony Munyonga, Elton Chigumbura
ENGLAND WORLD CUP SQUAD
Eoin Morgan (captain), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler (wicketkeeper), Tom Curran, Joe Denly, Alex Hales, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, David Willey, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood
Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
if you go
The flights
Etihad flies direct from Abu Dhabi to San Francisco from Dh5,760 return including taxes.
The car
Etihad Guest members get a 10 per cent worldwide discount when booking with Hertz, as well as earning miles on their rentals (more at www.hertz.com/etihad). A week's car hire costs from Dh1,500 including taxes.
The hotels
Along the route, Motel 6 (www.motel6.com) offers good value and comfort, with rooms from $55 (Dh202) per night including taxes. In Portland, the Jupiter Hotel (https://jupiterhotel.com/) has rooms from $165 (Dh606) per night including taxes. The Society Hotel https://thesocietyhotel.com/ has rooms from $130 (Dh478) per night including taxes.
More info
To keep up with constant developments in Portland, visit www.travelportland.com
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Shooting Ghosts: A U.S. Marine, a Combat Photographer, and Their Journey Back from War by Thomas J. Brennan and Finbarr O’Reilly
The bio
His favourite book - 1984 by George Orwell
His favourite quote - 'If you think education is expensive, try ignorance' by Derek Bok, Former President of Harvard
Favourite place to travel to - Peloponnese, Southern Greece
Favourite movie - The Last Emperor
Favourite personality from history - Alexander the Great
Role Model - My father, Yiannis Davos
AI traffic lights to ease congestion at seven points to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street
The seven points are:
Shakhbout bin Sultan Street
Dhafeer Street
Hadbat Al Ghubainah Street (outbound)
Salama bint Butti Street
Al Dhafra Street
Rabdan Street
Umm Yifina Street exit (inbound)
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
Washmen Profile
Date Started: May 2015
Founders: Rami Shaar and Jad Halaoui
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Laundry
Employees: 170
Funding: about $8m
Funders: Addventure, B&Y Partners, Clara Ventures, Cedar Mundi Partners, Henkel Ventures
The Pope's itinerary
Sunday, February 3, 2019 - Rome to Abu Dhabi
1pm: departure by plane from Rome / Fiumicino to Abu Dhabi
10pm: arrival at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
Monday, February 4
12pm: welcome ceremony at the main entrance of the Presidential Palace
12.20pm: visit Abu Dhabi Crown Prince at Presidential Palace
5pm: private meeting with Muslim Council of Elders at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
6.10pm: Inter-religious in the Founder's Memorial
Tuesday, February 5 - Abu Dhabi to Rome
9.15am: private visit to undisclosed cathedral
10.30am: public mass at Zayed Sports City – with a homily by Pope Francis
12.40pm: farewell at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
1pm: departure by plane to Rome
5pm: arrival at the Rome / Ciampino International Airport
match info
Manchester United 3 (Martial 7', 44', 74')
Sheffield United 0
SHOW COURTS ORDER OF PLAY
Wimbledon order of play on Tuesday, July 11
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Centre Court
Adrian Mannarino v Novak Djokovic (2)
Venus Williams (10) v Jelena Ostapenko (13)
Johanna Konta (6) v Simona Halep (2)
Court 1
Garbine Muguruza (14) v
Svetlana Kuznetsova (7)
Magdalena Rybarikova v Coco Vandeweghe (24)
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
RACE CARD
6.30pm: Baniyas Group 2 (PA) Dh 97,500 (Dirt) 1,400m.
7.05pm Maiden (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 1,200m
7.40pm Maiden (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 1,400m
8.15pm Handicap (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 1,400m
8.50pm Rated Conditions (TB) Dh 120,000 (D) 1,600m
9.25pm Handicap (TB) Dh 95,000 (D) 1,200m
10pm Handicap (TB) Dh 85,000 (D) 2,000m
Gulf Under 19s final
Dubai College A 50-12 Dubai College B
The biog
Name: Dhabia Khalifa AlQubaisi
Age: 23
How she spends spare time: Playing with cats at the clinic and feeding them
Inspiration: My father. He’s a hard working man who has been through a lot to provide us with everything we need
Favourite book: Attitude, emotions and the psychology of cats by Dr Nicholes Dodman
Favourit film: 101 Dalmatians - it remind me of my childhood and began my love of dogs
Word of advice: By being patient, good things will come and by staying positive you’ll have the will to continue to love what you're doing
Company profile
Name: Fruitful Day
Founders: Marie-Christine Luijckx, Lyla Dalal AlRawi, Lindsey Fournie
Based: Dubai, UAE
Founded: 2015
Number of employees: 30
Sector: F&B
Funding so far: Dh3 million
Future funding plans: None at present
Future markets: Saudi Arabia, potentially Kuwait and other GCC countries
RESULTS
Bantamweight: Jalal Al Daaja (JOR) beat Hamza Bougamza (MAR)
Catchweight 67kg: Mohamed El Mesbahi (MAR) beat Fouad Mesdari (ALG)
Lightweight: Abdullah Mohammed Ali (UAE) beat Abdelhak Amhidra (MAR)
Catchweight 73kg: Mosatafa Ibrahim Radi (PAL) beat Yazid Chouchane (ALG)
Middleweight: Yousri Belgaroui (TUN) beat Badreddine Diani (MAR)
Catchweight 78KG: Rashed Dawood (UAE) beat Adnan Bushashy (ALG)
Middleweight: Sallah-Eddine Dekhissi (MAR) beat Abdel Enam (EGY)
Catchweight 65kg: Yanis Ghemmouri (ALG) beat Rachid Hazoume (MAR)
Lightweight: Mohammed Yahya (UAE) beat Azouz Anwar (EGY)
Catchweight 79kg: Souhil Tahiri (ALG) beat Omar Hussein (PAL)
Middleweight: Tarek Suleiman (SYR) beat Laid Zerhouni (ALG)
About RuPay
A homegrown card payment scheme launched by the National Payments Corporation of India and backed by the Reserve Bank of India, the country’s central bank
RuPay process payments between banks and merchants for purchases made with credit or debit cards
It has grown rapidly in India and competes with global payment network firms like MasterCard and Visa.
In India, it can be used at ATMs, for online payments and variations of the card can be used to pay for bus, metro charges, road toll payments
The name blends two words rupee and payment
Some advantages of the network include lower processing fees and transaction costs
