Republicans in the US House of Representatives have approved an impeachment inquiry into allegations that President Joe Biden benefited from his son's foreign business dealings despite any evidence proving he was involved in corruption.
Either way, the investigation will create a headache for the White House as Mr Biden continues his 2024 re-election campaign.
Here, The National takes a look at what's next in the impeachment inquiry.
What is impeachment?
The US Constitution provides that Congress may remove a president for “treason, bribery or other high crimes and misdemeanours”.
Impeachment by the House, which is the political equivalent of a criminal indictment, would spark a trial by the Senate, and the President be removed from office convicted. An effort to remove Mr Biden will almost certainly fail, as the chamber is controlled by the Democrats.
Although three US presidents have been impeached – Andrew Johnson in 1868, Bill Clinton in 1998 and Donald Trump twice in 2019 and 2021 – none has ever been removed from office by the Senate.
What is this inquiry about?
House Republicans allege that Mr Biden and his family profited from his actions when he served as Barack Obama's vice president from 2009 to 2017, zeroing in on his son Hunter Biden's business ventures in Ukraine and China during that period.
They have turned up evidence that the younger Mr Biden led clients to believe that he could provide access to the vice president's office, but they have not provided evidence that Mr Biden took any official actions to help those businesses or that he benefited financially from them.
What is the timeline of the inquiry?
The vote Republicans held is not a required step to impeach an official, but members say its passage gives them greater legal footing to subpoena for documents and testimony.
The formal launch of the inquiry also orders the Republican-held Judiciary Committee, Oversight Committee and Ways and Means Committee to expand their investigation, which is already more than three months in.
They can choose to not pursue impeachment, but if they choose to move forward, they will have to draft articles of impeachment and present them to the full House.
This process could last several months into 2024.
The five pillars of Islam
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
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
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.
Our legal consultants
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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.
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
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Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
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
Rashid & Rajab
Director: Mohammed Saeed Harib
Stars: Shadi Alfons, Marwan Abdullah, Doaa Mostafa Ragab
Two stars out of five
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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
Russia's Muslim Heartlands
Dominic Rubin, Oxford
