Planning for the Republican National Convention in Florida in seven weeks has hit major hurdles, with the state becoming the US hotspot after a record surge in coronavirus cases.
Organisers are faced with logistical complications in the format of the convention, from August 24 to 27, and the level of attendance.
President Donald Trump changed the location of the convention last month from North Carolina to Jacksonville, Florida, after a clash over restrictions caused by Covid-19.
But with Florida recording 15,300 new cases on Sunday, that decision is being questioned and plans to hold the convention indoors are being re-evaluated.
Duval Country, which incorporates the city of Jacksonville, has had the highest number of cases in north-east Florida, with 13,370 of the 282,435 recorded in the state so far.
Unlike previous conventions, the one in Jacksonville will not adopt a new platform but will stick to the one from 2016.
Any of the 336 state delegates who cannot attend will be able to designate a proxy from among those present to vote on their behalf on the closing day, to nominate Mr Trump as Republican presidential candidate.
His plan to deliver his acceptance speech at the Jacksonville VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena is being reassessed.
Mr Trump's aides are pushing to hold the speech outdoors to minimise the risk of virus transmission, AP reported.
“But Mr Trump has expressed reservations about an outdoor venue, believing it would lack the same atmosphere as a charged arena,” it said.
With cases rising and the Trump campaign already rescheduling rallies in Arizona and New Hampshire, he may have no choice but to amend the plans for Florida.
The health risks associated attending the convention have already prompted some Republican senators to decide against attending.
Lamar Alexander, Chuck Grassley, Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski and Mitt Romney have said they will not be at the gathering.
Senator Pat Roberts said last week he would “probably not” attend the convention either.
On Monday, the Texas Supreme Court upheld Houston's decision to scrap this week's state Republican Party convention because of the pandemic.
The party is also facing a problem raising funds to meet the costs of moving the national convention.
The New York Times reported at the weekend that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis was directing his top fundraiser to tell donors not to give money for the event.
Mr DeSantis's decision was made because of a personal dispute between him and his former aide, Susie Wiles, the paper reported.
The pandemic has also affected the Democratic National Convention due to be held in Wisconsin from August 17 to 21.
The meeting will be held mostly online and voting for the party’s nominee, Joe Biden, will take place over two weeks before the event.
The specs
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Price: Dh149,000
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
A cheaper choice
Vanuatu: $130,000
Why on earth pick Vanuatu? Easy. The South Pacific country has no income tax, wealth tax, capital gains or inheritance tax. And in 2015, when it was hit by Cyclone Pam, it signed an agreement with the EU that gave it some serious passport power.
Cost: A minimum investment of $130,000 for a family of up to four, plus $25,000 in fees.
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
GAC GS8 Specs
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Engine: 80 kWh four-wheel-drive
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Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
Ultra processed foods
- Carbonated drinks, sweet or savoury packaged snacks, confectionery, mass-produced packaged breads and buns
- margarines and spreads; cookies, biscuits, pastries, cakes, and cake mixes, breakfast cereals, cereal and energy bars;
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- infant formulas and follow-on milks, health and slimming products such as powdered or fortified meal and dish substitutes,
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The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company%20profile
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Florence and the Machine – High as Hope
Three stars
New UK refugee system
- A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
- Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
- A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
- To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
- Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
- Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
