WASHINGTON // Barack Obama and the senator Joe Biden made their first official appearance together yesterday in front of supporters at the Old State Capitol in Springfield, Illinois, the same spot where Mr Obama kicked off his campaign more than a year ago. Mr Obama's choice of Mr Biden as running mate is seen as a bid to add experience and foreign policy expertise to his White House campaign. The presumptive Democratic presidential nominee has been lauded for his idealism and energy, but detractors have criticised his lack of international and foreign policy credentials at a time when the United States is engaged in costly wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Mr Biden, the son of an Irish-Catholic car salesman from the industrial city of Scranton, Pennsylvania, was elected to the senate in 1972 - several years before John McCain, Mr Obama's Republican rival, entered politics - and has sat on its foreign relations committee for more than three decades. Moreover, his son will be deployed to Iraq in October, which the Democrats hope will go some way towards countering the extensive military record of Mr McCain, who spent five years in captivity in Vietnam and who is generally viewed as stronger on foreign policy issues.
@Email:sstanek@thenational.ae
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
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6.30pm Mazrat Al Ruwayah – Group 2 (PA) $36,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
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The biog
Hobbies: Writing and running
Favourite sport: beach volleyball
Favourite holiday destinations: Turkey and Puerto Rico
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Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage
Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid
Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani
Rating: 4/5
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A Dog's Journey
Directed by: Gail Mancuso
Starring: Dennis Quaid, Josh Gad, Marg Helgenberger, Betty Gilpin, Kathryn Prescott
3 out of 5 stars
The specs
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
Five expert hiking tips
The distance learning plan
Spring break will be from March 8 - 19
Public school pupils will undergo distance learning from March 22 - April 2. School hours will be 8.30am to 1.30pm
Staff will be trained in distance learning programmes from March 15 - 19
Teaching hours will be 8am to 2pm during distance learning
Pupils will return to school for normal lessons from April 5
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Cofe
Year started: 2018
Based: UAE
Employees: 80-100
Amount raised: $13m
Investors: KISP ventures, Cedar Mundi, Towell Holding International, Takamul Capital, Dividend Gate Capital, Nizar AlNusif Sons Holding, Arab Investment Company and Al Imtiaz Investment Group
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The five pillars of Islam
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The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre, six-cylinder
Transmission: six-speed manual
Power: 395bhp
Torque: 420Nm
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
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