Follow the latest news on the US midterm elections 2022
Inside a small boutique, tucked into an office complex in a suburban district in Phoenix, Arizona, Samira Jabbar stares nervously at the television as a Republican advertisement declares US President Joe Biden to be weak on immigration.
The Venezuelan-born Palestinian American businesswoman does not usually vote in midterm elections. But this year, a number of Donald Trump-backed Republican candidates are on the ballot, many of whom who have refused to accept the 2020 presidential election results and are espousing anti-immigrant sentiments.
Ms Jabbar feels compelled to execute her democratic right.
“Things have to change,” she said. “I’m getting tired of not having a place.”
Arizona is one of a handful of states that could help to determine the outcome of the key US midterm elections. The Senate race between the Democratic incumbent, Mark Kelly, and Republican Blake Masters is neck and neck.
In Washington, Vice President Kamala Harris currently holds the deciding vote in an evenly split Senate. However, if Mr Kelly loses, that could all change.
If the Democrats lose control of the House of Representatives and the Senate, their legislative agenda is dead in the water.
The race for governor is equally close and consequential. Kari Lake, a former news anchor, has run a blistering campaign drawing on her endorsement by Mr Trump.
Ms Lake, who has continuously claimed the 2020 election was “stolen”, has a narrow lead over Democratic candidate Katie Hobbs. As secretary of state for Arizona, Ms Hobbs oversaw the state’s 2020 election count and has repeatedly defended the results.
If Ms Lake wins on Tuesday, Arizona, which has been at the centre of conspiracy theories surrounding the 2020 election, would be run by a governor who has propagated some of those baseless claims.
Ms Lake has made immigration and security along the southern border a cornerstone of her campaign.
She has said that as governor she would declare an “invasion” due to the number of “illegal” immigrants in the state.
Her rhetoric has left many in immigrant communities worried about their future and place in the state they call home.
“I am very worried,” said Karina Ruiz, the executive director of the Arizona Dream Act Coalition.
For Ms Ruiz, who arrived in the US as a child, this election feels all too familiar.
“It takes me back to when Trump was elected and a lot of fear and anxiety happened in our community because of these views of fear of the outsiders or xenophobia and fascism that some of the candidates are holding on to,” she told The National.
“To me, Arizona is going to go backwards if certain candidates are elected.”
Two years removed from office, Mr Trump’s shadow remains firmly over the Republican Party and the midterms.
“What Trump exposed is a vein of racism in the society against Muslims, against blacks, Hispanics, immigrants, really whoever you want to name,” said Usama Shami, the executive director of the Islamic Community Centre of Phoenix.
“So, this election, it connects or ties to what happened in 2016.”
Mr Shami worries that the US has become so divided and the seesaw of power so constant that the very fabric of the country may be coming undone.
“If you take a piece of metal and you keep on bending it back and forth, eventually it is going to snap at some point,” he said. “I think the same thing is happening in this country, right now.”
Not all are concerned. Rajab, an Afghan refugee, who will be voting for the first time on Tuesday, said he has yet to make up his mind on who he will support.
“I would like to be independent, because there are good people involved in both parties,” he said.
Rajab, who became a US citizen in August, is excited to uphold what he sees as his duty to vote and hopes that whatever happens, the results are respected.
For Ms Jabbar, this election cycle has been taxing. The prospect of having people in power whom she feels actively question her worth, is enough to get her to the polls on Tuesday.
“I’m invisible if I don’t vote,” she said.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
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The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
World Test Championship table
1 India 71 per cent
2 New Zealand 70 per cent
3 Australia 69.2 per cent
4 England 64.1 per cent
5 Pakistan 43.3 per cent
6 West Indies 33.3 per cent
7 South Africa 30 per cent
8 Sri Lanka 16.7 per cent
9 Bangladesh 0
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."
Turkish Ladies
Various artists, Sony Music Turkey
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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.
England World Cup squad
Eoin Morgan (capt), Moeen Ali, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler (wkt), Tom Curran, Liam Dawson, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, James Vince, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood
Brief scores:
Southampton 2
Armstrong 13', Soares 20'
Manchester United 2
Lukaku 33', Herrera 39'
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
