Much attention has been paid, and justifiably so, to how the coming presidency of Barack Obama will change the way the world sees the United States, and how we see ourselves.
Some have argued that the election of Mr Obama is a final statement about inclusiveness. As one commentator put it, "now when we tell our children they can grow up to be anything they want, we're finally telling the truth".
But the story of diversity and inclusion has been written earlier in the US Senate, where the successes and failures of our inclusiveness can be seen.
The final picture of what the 111th Senate will look like is not yet clear. The contests in Georgia and Minnesota have yet to be decided (Georgia requires a runoff election, and Minnesota is so close that a mandatory recount has begun), and the governors of Illinois and Delaware still need to fill the seats that were held by Mr Obama and Joseph Biden, the vice president-elect.
Finally, the picture could change even more should Mr Obama select a senator to serve as secretary of state or any other cabinet post in his administration.
But even with this uncertainty, we can begin to sketch out what the 111th Senate will look like, as compared with the 110th Senate.
Overall
In the 110th Senate there were 51 Democratic votes (49 Democrats and two independents who caucused with them), and 49 Republicans.
The new Senate will have at least 58 Democratic votes (56 Democrats and two independents) and at least 40 Republicans - with two races yet undecided.
The final tally, therefore, will be no worse for the Democrats than 58-42, and could be as high as 60-40.
Since Illinois and Delaware (and even in the states where the secretary of state picks are possible - Hillary Clinton's New York and John Kerry's Massachusetts) all have Democratic governors who will appoint replacements to hold the seats until the next election, the Democrats will not lose any seats.
Women
Women make up 51 per cent of the US population, but there are only 16 women in the 110th Senate (five Republicans and 11 Democrats), while the 111th Senate will include 17 women (four Republicans and 13 Democrats).
The change is in part the result of Democrat Kay Hagan beating incumbent Republican Elizabeth Dole in North Carolina, and Democrat Jeanne Shaheen defeating Republican incumbent John Sununu.
The only possible state from which a new woman senator may emerge is Illinois, where a few prominent women are being mentioned as possible successors to Mr Obama.
African-Americans
African-Americans are the most under-represented group in the US Senate. While this community makes up 12 per cent of the US population, in the 110th Senate there was only one African-American senator, Barack Obama.
With Mr Obama vacating his seat, it is possible that there will be no African-Americans in the 111th Senate. In fact, in all of US history there have only been three African-American senators: Edward Brooke, a Republican from Massachusetts who served two terms from 1967-1979; Carol Moseley Braun, an Illinois Democrat who served one term from 1993-1999; and Mr Obama.
There is pressure on Rod Blagojevich, the Illinois governor, to appoint an African-American to fill Mr Obama's seat. It is also possible that an African-American could be appointed from New York, should Mrs Clinton become secretary of state.
Hispanic Americans
Also are under-represented in the US Senate are Hispanics. They make up 15 per cent of the US population and yet, in the 110th Senate there were three Hispanic senators (Ken Salazar, a Democrat from Colorado; Melquiades Martinez, a Republican from Florida; and Robert Menéndez, a Democrat from New Jersey).
Since none of them were up for re-election this year, all will return for the 111th.
Asian-Americans
Asian-Americans comprise 4.5 per cent of the population, and only two senators are Asian-Americans, both are native Hawaiians and represent that state: Democrats Daniel Inouye and Daniel Akaka.
American Jews
While American Jews comprise two per cent of the US population, there were 13 Jewish senators in the 110th session, and that number will not change in the 111th Senate. (The only vulnerable American Jewish senator is Minnesota Republican Norman Coleman, whose election is still to be decided, is opposed by Democrat Al Franken, who is also Jewish.)
Arab-Americans
New Hampshire Republican John Sununu was the only Arab-American member of the 110th Senate, and his defeat means that in Jan 2009, for the only the second time since 1973, the US Senate will be without an Arab-American member.
However, it should be noted that Mr Sununu's loss was to former governor Jeanne Shaheen, whose husband is an Arab-American.
To date, the Arab-American senators have been James Abourezk (Democrat-South Dakota, 1973-1979); James Abdnor (Republican-South Dakota, 1981-1987); George Mitchell (Democrat-Maine, 1980-1995); E Spencer Abraham (Republican-Michigan 1995-2001); and John Sununu (Republican-New Hampshire, 2003-2009).
jzogby@thenational.ae
The Travel Diaries of Albert Einstein The Far East, Palestine, and Spain, 1922 – 1923
Editor Ze’ev Rosenkranz
Princeton
Result
Qualifier: Islamabad United beat Karachi Kings by eight wickets
Fixtures
Tuesday, Lahore: Eliminator 1 - Peshawar Zalmi v Quetta Gladiators
Wednesday, Lahore: Eliminator 2 – Karachi Kings v Winner of Eliminator 1
Sunday, Karachi: Final – Islamabad United v Winner of Eliminator 2
VERSTAPPEN'S FIRSTS
Youngest F1 driver (17 years 3 days Japan 2014)
Youngest driver to start an F1 race (17 years 166 days – Australia 2015)
Youngest F1 driver to score points (17 years 180 days - Malaysia 2015)
Youngest driver to lead an F1 race (18 years 228 days – Spain 2016)
Youngest driver to set an F1 fastest lap (19 years 44 days – Brazil 2016)
Youngest on F1 podium finish (18 years 228 days – Spain 2016)
Youngest F1 winner (18 years 228 days – Spain 2016)
Youngest multiple F1 race winner (Mexico 2017/18)
Youngest F1 driver to win the same race (Mexico 2017/18)
Zayed Sustainability Prize
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
If you go
- The nearest international airport to the start of the Chuysky Trakt is in Novosibirsk. Emirates (www.emirates.com) offer codeshare flights with S7 Airlines (www.s7.ru) via Moscow for US$5,300 (Dh19,467) return including taxes. Cheaper flights are available on Flydubai and Air Astana or Aeroflot combination, flying via Astana in Kazakhstan or Moscow. Economy class tickets are available for US$650 (Dh2,400).
- The Double Tree by Hilton in Novosibirsk ( 7 383 2230100,) has double rooms from US$60 (Dh220). You can rent cabins at camp grounds or rooms in guesthouses in the towns for around US$25 (Dh90).
- The transport Minibuses run along the Chuysky Trakt but if you want to stop for sightseeing, hire a taxi from Gorno-Altaisk for about US$100 (Dh360) a day. Take a Russian phrasebook or download a translation app. Tour companies such as Altair-Tour ( 7 383 2125115 ) offer hiking and adventure packages.
BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Saturday, May 16 (kick-offs UAE time)
Borussia Dortmund v Schalke (4.30pm)
RB Leipzig v Freiburg (4.30pm)
Hoffenheim v Hertha Berlin (4.30pm)
Fortuna Dusseldorf v Paderborn (4.30pm)
Augsburg v Wolfsburg (4.30pm)
Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Monchengladbach (7.30pm)
Sunday, May 17
Cologne v Mainz (4.30pm),
Union Berlin v Bayern Munich (7pm)
Monday, May 18
Werder Bremen v Bayer Leverkusen (9.30pm)
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.
Five expert hiking tips
Always check the weather forecast before setting off
Make sure you have plenty of water
Set off early to avoid sudden weather changes in the afternoon
Wear appropriate clothing and footwear
Take your litter home with you
if you go
The flights
Etihad, Emirates and Singapore Airlines fly direct from the UAE to Singapore from Dh2,265 return including taxes. The flight takes about 7 hours.
The hotel
Rooms at the M Social Singapore cost from SG $179 (Dh488) per night including taxes.
The tour
Makan Makan Walking group tours costs from SG $90 (Dh245) per person for about three hours. Tailor-made tours can be arranged. For details go to www.woknstroll.com.sg
A%20MAN%20FROM%20MOTIHARI
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Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club race card
5pm: Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic (PA) Prestige; Dh110,000; 1,400m
5.30pm: Abu Dhabi Colts Classic (PA) Prestige; Dh110,000; 1,400m
6pm: Maiden (PA); Dh80,000; 1,600m
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Championship (PA) Listed; Dh180,000; 1,600m
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Handicap; Dh70,000; 2,200m
7.30pm: Handicap (PA); Dh100,000; 2,400m
Business Insights
- Canada and Mexico are significant energy suppliers to the US, providing the majority of oil and natural gas imports
- The introduction of tariffs could hinder the US's clean energy initiatives by raising input costs for materials like nickel
- US domestic suppliers might benefit from higher prices, but overall oil consumption is expected to decrease due to elevated costs
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
Company%20Profile
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Ticket prices
- Golden circle - Dh995
- Floor Standing - Dh495
- Lower Bowl Platinum - Dh95
- Lower Bowl premium - Dh795
- Lower Bowl Plus - Dh695
- Lower Bowl Standard- Dh595
- Upper Bowl Premium - Dh395
- Upper Bowl standard - Dh295
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
TRAP
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue
Director: M Night Shyamalan
Rating: 3/5
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
INFO
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UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
PROFILE
Name: Enhance Fitness
Year started: 2018
Based: UAE
Employees: 200
Amount raised: $3m
Investors: Global Ventures and angel investors
Company%20Profile
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What She Ate: Six Remarkable Women & the Food That Tells Their Stories
Laura Shapiro
Fourth Estate
