Latest updates: Follow our full coverage on the US election
US president-elect Donald Trump is reportedly set to name Senator Marco Rubio as his secretary of state, putting the Florida-born politician on track to be the first Latino to serve as America's top diplomat from January.
Mr Rubio, who was in the running to be vice president, has deep foreign policy experience, sitting on both the Senate intelligence committee and the foreign relations committee. He is staunchly pro-Israel and known for his hawkish views on China, Iran and Cuba.
Latino voters switching from the Democrats played a critical role in Mr Trump's victory in the presidential election. Several US media outlets including The New York Times reported on Monday that Mr Trump was planning on selecting Mr Rubio.
Mr Trump has begun naming top officials for his new administration, rewarding loyalists who stuck with him during his campaign and reviving some names from his first administration.
His pick for the US ambassador to the UN, Elise Stefanik, underlines how the second Trump administration will bring a tough, pro-Israel line to the world body.
“The work ahead is immense as we see anti-Semitism skyrocketing, coupled with four years of catastrophically weak US leadership that significantly weakened our national security and diminished our standing in the eyes of both allies and adversaries,” Ms Stefanik said.
“I stand ready to advance President Donald J Trump's restoration of America First peace through strength leadership on the world stage on Day One at the United Nations.”
Mr Trump said his nominee, whose approval by the Senate is virtually assured now Republicans have regained control of the upper chamber, is an “incredibly strong, tough and smart America First fighter”.
Ms Stefanik, 40, a Republican congresswoman and fierce ally of Mr Trump, would replace President Joe Biden's UN ambassador, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, who drew criticism for vetoes of humanitarian resolutions for Gaza.
The UN is bracing for Mr Trump's return and likely cuts to US funding and engagement with the world body.
US media on Monday reported that Mr Trump is expected to name Marco Rubio as secretary of state, granting a top job in his second administration to a previous rival who went on to become a fierce supporter.
Mr Rubio, who would replace Antony Blinken, campaigned extensively for Mr Trump and was on the shortlist to serve as his running mate.
Mr Trump also appears poised to make another critical US foreign policy staffing announcement, with his reported pick for national security adviser. According to several US outlets, Mike Waltz, a congressman from Florida is due to be tapped for the role.
Mr Waltz would succeed Jake Sullivan and would immediately confront a slew of national security crises including the war in the Middle East, America's support to Ukraine as it fights Russia's invasion and countering Beijing. Mr Waltz is considered a China hawk, in part because of its treatment of the minority Muslim Uighur population.
Among the names resurrected from his first administration is Stephen Miller, an immigration hardliner, who will be the deputy chief of policy in the new administration.
Mr Miller has played a key role in some of Mr Trump's policy decisions, including his move to separate thousands of immigrant families.
Mr Trump argued throughout the campaign that America's economic, national security and social priorities could be met by deporting people who are in the US illegally.
On Monday, he also announced Lee Zeldin to head the Environmental Protection Agency. Mr Zeldin, 44, does not appear to have any experience in environmental issues, but is a long-time supporter of Mr Trump.
“We will restore US energy dominance, revitalise our auto industry to bring back American jobs, and make the US the global leader of AI,” Mr Zeldin wrote on X.
Tom Homan, 62, meanwhile been named as “border tsar”, whose first order of business will be overseeing the largest deportation operation in the nation’s history.
Mr Homan served under Mr Trump in his first administration leading US Immigration and Customs Enforcement. He also served under former president Barack Obama, heading Ice's deportation branch.
Emphasising that only Trump loyalists need apply for positions in his new administration, the president-elect at the weekend said neither his former UN ambassador, Nikki Haley, nor his former secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, would be invited back.
Mr Pompeo flirted with the idea of a presidential run and Ms Haley criticised Mr Trump when she ran against him this year.
Mr Trump last week appointed Susie Wiles, one of his two campaign managers, to be his White House chief of staff.
Trump nominations
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What is the definition of an SME?
SMEs in the UAE are defined by the number of employees, annual turnover and sector. For example, a “small company” in the services industry has six to 50 employees with a turnover of more than Dh2 million up to Dh20m, while in the manufacturing industry the requirements are 10 to 100 employees with a turnover of more than Dh3m up to Dh50m, according to Dubai SME, an agency of the Department of Economic Development.
A “medium-sized company” can either have staff of 51 to 200 employees or 101 to 250 employees, and a turnover less than or equal to Dh200m or Dh250m, again depending on whether the business is in the trading, manufacturing or services sectors.
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).
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How has net migration to UK changed?
The figure was broadly flat immediately before the Covid-19 pandemic, standing at 216,000 in the year to June 2018 and 224,000 in the year to June 2019.
It then dropped to an estimated 111,000 in the year to June 2020 when restrictions introduced during the pandemic limited travel and movement.
The total rose to 254,000 in the year to June 2021, followed by steep jumps to 634,000 in the year to June 2022 and 906,000 in the year to June 2023.
The latest available figure of 728,000 for the 12 months to June 2024 suggests levels are starting to decrease.
Stamp duty timeline
December 2014: Former UK finance minister George Osbourne reforms stamp duty, replacing the slab system with a blended rate scheme, with the top rate increasing to 12 per cent from 10 per cent:
Up to £125,000 - 0%; £125,000 to £250,000 – 2%; £250,000 to £925,000 – 5%; £925,000 to £1.5m: 10%; Over £1.5m – 12%
April 2016: New 3% surcharge applied to any buy-to-let properties or additional homes purchased.
July 2020: Rishi Sunak unveils SDLT holiday, with no tax to pay on the first £500,000, with buyers saving up to £15,000.
March 2021: Mr Sunak decides the fate of SDLT holiday at his March 3 budget, with expectations he will extend the perk unti June.
April 2021: 2% SDLT surcharge added to property transactions made by overseas buyers.
Know your Camel lingo
The bairaq is a competition for the best herd of 50 camels, named for the banner its winner takes home
Namoos - a word of congratulations reserved for falconry competitions, camel races and camel pageants. It best translates as 'the pride of victory' - and for competitors, it is priceless
Asayel camels - sleek, short-haired hound-like racers
Majahim - chocolate-brown camels that can grow to weigh two tonnes. They were only valued for milk until camel pageantry took off in the 1990s
Millions Street - the thoroughfare where camels are led and where white 4x4s throng throughout the festival
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