Live updates: Follow the latest on the US election
Thousands of anti-war protesters are expected to gather in Chicago on Monday as the Midwestern city hosts the Democratic National Convention.
The March on the DNC is expected to lead to demands that the Democratic Party stop focusing on military aid to Israel and instead improve housing, health care and the environment.
“Finally, the community is saying, at least the Palestinians and Arabs are saying, we are not voting for you this time,” Hatem Abudayyeh, spokesman for the march's coalition and chairman of the US Palestinian Community Network, told The National.
“We have no interest as to what's going on inside the convention hall,” he said, adding that the coalition is there to tell Democrats to “stop the genocide” in Gaza and show that the party has “lost a huge section of your constituency … that you've taken for granted”.
The convention is set to mark the final confirmation of Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, as the official Democratic nominees for the November 5 election – after President Joe Biden's decision to step aside from the race.
Mr Biden dropped out after a poor debate performance against Republican nominee Donald Trump, which hardened doubts of his ability to win amid a mounting “uncommitted” movement that urged Democrats to refuse to back the President during the primaries over his support of Israel's war in Gaza.
About three quarters of a million Democrats voted uncommitted in primaries across the US, notably in swing state Michigan, home to a large Arab-American population.
That movement is expected to make a significant show of force outside the convention halls: organisers are expecting a turnout of more than 10,000 protesters from across the country.
When Chicago hosted the DNC in 1968, riots started when thousands of anti-Vietnam War protesters were met with a heavy-handed police response.
Aisha, a Palestinian American, is travelling this week from Boise, Idaho, to take part in the march where she plans on waving a Palestinian flag.
“It's about bringing awareness and like, showing that our voices are here,” Aisha told The National.
“People are willing to travel across states, to tell the Democratic Party that we don't support genocide, we don't support this.”
Chicago is home to the largest per capita Muslim population in the US. It is also home to Little Palestine, the Bridgeview neighbourhood in the south-west of Chicago.
Many restaurants, stores, barbershops and coffee shops in Little Palestine have signs in Arabic and English. Since the Israel-Hamas war began, they also have been displaying Palestinian flags, “Free Palestine” signs and electronic billboards with the number of dead and wounded in the war.
About 18,000 Palestinian Americans live in Cook County, where Chicago is located.
Palestinian and Arab Americans said Mr Biden's decision to leave the race had not quelled the outrage towards his administration over its support for Israel since October 7.
Meanwhile, protest organisers say tension has been simmering in the city over a hectic permitting process that they say is infringing on their right to free speech.
The city last week granted permission for the coalition to use a shorter, less direct route than originally requested for the protest. The route will still be within “sight and sound” of the convention centre, a demand from organisers who say that is critical to their right to protest.
The coalition on Friday had a legal victory, however, with the reversal of a previous decision to ban portable toilets, sound amplification and stages.
Originally, the city argued these could be a risk to public safety, including concerns that tents or port-a-potties could hide illegal activities or weapons, or be used as weapons themselves.
At the convention, a handful of uncommitted delegates are expected to attend, but questions remain over whether they will be formally allowed to speak.
The full speaker list is still unknown, but US media reported that Mr Biden, former president Barack Obama, as well as Bill and Hillary Clinton, are among those expected to give addresses.
The Uncommitted National Movement requested that the Democratic National Committee provide speaking time for them at the convention, but those requests appear unlikely to be granted.
The protests are also campaigning for a wide range of progressive causes, including black justice, immigration, reproductive rights, LGBTQ rights and climate change issues.
“We're coming together because we all feel abandoned by the Democratic Party,” Mr Abudayyeh said.
The scope of Israel's war in Gaza, where more than 40,100 Palestinians have been killed since October 7 when 1,200 Israelis died during a Hamas incursion, has sparked a wave of activism on the Palestinian cause across a largely pro-Israel US.
But this coalition does not surprise Mr Abudayyeh, a veteran of the movement for Palestine after about 25 years of community organising.
“I've seen this support ever since I became an organiser,” he said.
His family connection to progressive causes in the US runs generations deep. He said his parents were members of an Arab organisation mobilising on a range of causes including the movement for Puerto Rican representation, women's liberation and Native American sovereignty.
“It's what I expected, because these are the people that I work with on a day-to-day basis.”
Other demonstrations separate from the coalition are expected in Chicago, too, including a rally for the Poor People's Army.
Types of policy
Term life insurance: this is the cheapest and most-popular form of life cover. You pay a regular monthly premium for a pre-agreed period, typically anything between five and 25 years, or possibly longer. If you die within that time, the policy will pay a cash lump sum, which is typically tax-free even outside the UAE. If you die after the policy ends, you do not get anything in return. There is no cash-in value at any time. Once you stop paying premiums, cover stops.
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Critical illness cover: this pays a cash lump sum if you suffer from a serious illness such as cancer, heart disease or stroke. Some policies cover as many as 50 different illnesses, although cancer triggers by far the most claims. The payout is designed to cover major financial responsibilities such as a mortgage or children’s education fees if you fall ill and are unable to work. It is cost effective to combine it with life insurance, with the policy paying out once if you either die or suffer a serious illness.
Income protection: this pays a replacement income if you fall ill and are unable to continue working. On the best policies, this will continue either until you recover, or reach retirement age. Unlike critical illness cover, policies will typically pay out for stress and musculoskeletal problems such as back trouble.
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill
Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.
Gulf rugby
Who’s won what so far in 2018/19
Western Clubs Champions League: Bahrain
Dubai Rugby Sevens: Dubai Hurricanes
West Asia Premiership: Bahrain
What’s left
UAE Conference
March 22, play-offs:
Dubai Hurricanes II v Al Ain Amblers, Jebel Ali Dragons II v Dubai Tigers
March 29, final
UAE Premiership
March 22, play-offs:
Dubai Exiles v Jebel Ali Dragons, Abu Dhabi Harlequins v Dubai Hurricanes
March 29, final
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
DMZ facts
- The DMZ was created as a buffer after the 1950-53 Korean War.
- It runs 248 kilometers across the Korean Peninsula and is 4km wide.
- The zone is jointly overseen by the US-led United Nations Command and North Korea.
- It is littered with an estimated 2 million mines, tank traps, razor wire fences and guard posts.
- Donald Trump and Kim Jong-Un met at a building in Panmunjom, where an armistice was signed to stop the Korean War.
- Panmunjom is 52km north of the Korean capital Seoul and 147km south of Pyongyang, North Korea’s capital.
- Former US president Bill Clinton visited Panmunjom in 1993, while Ronald Reagan visited the DMZ in 1983, George W. Bush in 2002 and Barack Obama visited a nearby military camp in 2012.
- Mr Trump planned to visit in November 2017, but heavy fog that prevented his helicopter from landing.
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Tonight's Chat on The National
Tonight's Chat is a series of online conversations on The National. The series features a diverse range of celebrities, politicians and business leaders from around the Arab world.
Tonight’s Chat host Ricardo Karam is a renowned author and broadcaster with a decades-long career in TV. He has previously interviewed Bill Gates, Carlos Ghosn, Andre Agassi and the late Zaha Hadid, among others. Karam is also the founder of Takreem.
Intellectually curious and thought-provoking, Tonight’s Chat moves the conversation forward.
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The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder turbo
Transmission: CVT
Power: 170bhp
Torque: 220Nm
Price: Dh98,900
VEZEETA PROFILE
Date started: 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
Size: 300 employees
Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)
Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Meg%202%3A%20The%20Trench
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EBen%20Wheatley%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJason%20Statham%2C%20Jing%20Wu%2C%20Cliff%20Curtis%2C%20Page%20Kennedy%2C%20Cliff%20Curtis%2C%20Melissanthi%20Mahut%20and%20Shuya%20Sophia%20Cai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The Florida Project
Director: Sean Baker
Starring: Bria Vinaite, Brooklynn Prince, Willem Dafoe
Four stars
The specs
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 620hp from 5,750-7,500rpm
Torque: 760Nm from 3,000-5,750rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed dual-clutch auto
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh1.05 million ($286,000)
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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
