Donald Trump speaks to reporters about signing an executive order on immigration policy with DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen and Vice President Mike Pence at his side. REUTERS/Leah Milllis
Donald Trump speaks to reporters about signing an executive order on immigration policy with DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen and Vice President Mike Pence at his side. REUTERS/Leah Milllis
Donald Trump speaks to reporters about signing an executive order on immigration policy with DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen and Vice President Mike Pence at his side. REUTERS/Leah Milllis
Donald Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday afternoon ending the process of separating children from families after they are detained crossing the US border illegally.
It marked a climbdown for a president who had previously refused to give way despite days of angry protests and a growing political crisis.
Mr Trump faced opposition within his own party and even his own family – officials said his wife was among those lobbying privately – to soften his zero-tolerance stance.
However, opponents fear the new stance may be a tactic to increase pressure on Democrats to compromise and pass Republican legislation to fund Mr Trump’s border wall and tighten immigration controls.
The text of the order insists that illegal immigrants be subject to prosecution but adds: “It is also the policy of this administration to maintain family unity, including by detaining alien families together where appropriate and consistent with law and available resources.”
It seeks modification of existing rules that prevent children being kept in adult facilities for sustained periods of time.
Mr Trump’s supporters were quick to praise his intervention.
Ivanka Trump, the president's daughter, who had been criticised for her silence on the issue, tweeted: "Thank you @POTUS for taking critical action ending family separation at our border. Congress must now act and find a lasting solution that is consistent with our shared values; the same values that so many come here seeking as they endeavour to create a better life for their families."
Pictures of children in cages have dominated American news media since Sunday, raising fears the issue could define crucial midterm elections in the autumn and hand control of Congress to Democrats.
The issue pitted hardliners in the party who back Donald Trump’s stance on a zero-tolerance approach to illegal immigrants against those who say locking up children is inhumane and counter to American values.
Fiona Pompilio, 10, of Philadelphia marches by Rittenhouse Square as protestors gather near a hotel hosting a GOP fundraiser with Vice President Mike Pence Tuesday, June 19, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pa. The demonstration is a reaction to children being separated from their families by immigration officials. (Joe Lamberti/Camden Courier-Post via AP)
Rich Galen, a Republican strategist, said the issue raised the central problem faced by the party in the Trump era: His right-wing base was chasing a shrinking share of an electorate troubled by the president’s policies.
“I don’t think he has reached the limits of his populism,” he said. “A lot of his supporters think he is doing the right thing.”
In contrast, Republican candidates, he said, knew they risked losing votes from independents and moderates if they followed the president’s lead on such an explosive policy.
Meanwhile, Republicans hope the legislation will provide a longer-term solution. They are drafting two bills that would tighten immigration controls while allowing families to stay together in custody.
The president is trying to link an end to family separations with the passage of a wider bill that would include funding for his long-sought border wall with Mexico, prompting Democrats to accuse him of using children as hostages.
“In his remarks, he endorsed both House immigration bills that build the wall, close legal loopholes, cancel the visa lottery, curb chain migration, and solve the border crisis and family separation issue by allowing for family detention and removal,” said White House spokesman Raj Shah.
Democrats have signalled they will not allow Mr Trump to play politics with the lives of thousands of children.
Amid the public outcry over the administration's "zero tolerance" approach to illegal border crossings and the separation of children from parents, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., flanked by Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, left, and Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., holds out a pen telling President Donal Trump, "Mr. President you started it, you can stop it," during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, June 19, 2018. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Chuck Schumer, who leads the party in the Senate, said on Twitter: “Anyone who believes this Republican Congress is capable of addressing this issue is kidding themselves. @realDonaldTrump can end this crisis with the flick of his pen, and he needs to do so now.”
Meanwhile, immigrants continue to arrive at the border.
In the latest figures, US immigration officials say 2,342 children were taken from 2,206 parents at the border during the month up to 9 June, all part of a “zero tolerance” crackdown on illegal immigration announced by Jeff Sessions, the attorney general in April.
More details of the policy continue to emerge. Babies and toddlers are being sent to three "tender age" shelters, the Associated Press news agency reported. It cited doctors and lawyers who visited the sites describing children as hysterical.
Many leading Republicans have distanced themselves from the policy.
Ted Cruz, a conservative senator from Texas, has moved from criticising Democratic concern about the separations to pushing for an end to the policy.
"All Americans are rightly horrified by the images we are seeing on the news, children in tears pulled away from their mothers and fathers," he said as he announced he was working on legislation. "This must stop. immediately.”
And a number of evangelical Christian leaders – who provided crucial support to Mr Trump during the election – have added their condemnation.
Mr Sessions himself faces the wrath of his own church. More than 600 members of the United Methodist Church accused him in a letter of “child abuse” and of breaching its moral code.
“As his denomination, we have an ethical obligation to speak boldly when one of our members is engaged in causing significant harm in matters contrary to the Discipline on the global stage,” they wrote.
Opinion polls show the policy is wildly unpopular with Americans, although 55 per cent of Republicans back it, according to a survey published by Quinnipiac University on Monday.
That may not be enough for Republicans running in tight races.
"Swing voters, soccer moms, middle-class voters are being turned off by what they are seeing down there," said Jim Manley, a Democratic strategist.
The result is political deadlock while an angry wave consumes America.
A California couple who set up a Facebook page to raise money to help fund legal services for newly arrived immigrants in Texas said they were stunned by the response.
After appealing on Saturday for $1,500 – the minimum needed to pay a bond to leave detention and be reunited with family – Charlotte and Dave Willner said they were amazed to see their appeal bring in almost $9 million by Wednesday morning.
At one point the money was pouring in at more than $3,000 a minute.
“That's truly stunning and a massive testament to the desire of people to help with this horrifying situation,” wrote Mr Willner on Facebook.
MATCH INFO
Red Star Belgrade v Tottenham Hotspur, midnight (Thursday), UAE
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Total fights: 32 Wins: 28 Wins by KO: 26 Losses: 4
If you go...
Flying
There is no simple way to get to Punta Arenas from the UAE, with flights from Dubai and Abu Dhabi requiring at least two connections to reach this part of Patagonia. Flights start from about Dh6,250.
Touring
Chile Nativo offers the amended Los Dientes trek with expert guides and porters who are met in Puerto Williams on Isla Navarino. The trip starts and ends in Punta Arenas and lasts for six days in total. Prices start from Dh8,795.
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Sharad Nair recommends three investment apps for UAE residents:
For beginners or people who want to start investing with limited capital, Mr Nair suggests eToro. “The low fees and low minimum balance requirements make the platform more accessible,” he says. “The user interface is straightforward to understand and operate, while its social element may help ease beginners into the idea of investing money by looking to a virtual community.”
If you’re an experienced investor, and have $10,000 or more to invest, consider Saxo Bank. “Saxo Bank offers a more comprehensive trading platform with advanced features and insight for more experienced users. It offers a more personalised approach to opening and operating an account on their platform,” he says.
Finally, StashAway could work for those who want a hands-off approach to their investing. “It removes one of the biggest challenges for novice traders: picking the securities in their portfolio,” Mr Nair says. “A goal-based approach or view towards investing can help motivate residents who may usually shy away from investment platforms.”
Etihad and Emirates fly direct from the UAE to Seoul from Dh3,775 return, including taxes
The package
Ski Safari offers a seven-night ski package to Korea, including five nights at the Dragon Valley Hotel in Yongpyong and two nights at Seoul CenterMark hotel, from £720 (Dh3,488) per person, including transfers, based on two travelling in January
Microsoft’s ‘hacker-in-chief’ David Weston, creator of the tech company’s Windows Red Team, advises simple steps to help people avoid falling victim to cyber fraud:
1. Always get the latest operating system on your smartphone or desktop, as it will have the latest innovations. An outdated OS can erode away all investments made in securing your device or system.
2. After installing the latest OS version, keep it patched; this means repairing system vulnerabilities which are discovered after the infrastructure components are released in the market. The vast majority of attacks are based on out of date components – there are missing patches.
3. Multi-factor authentication is required. Move away from passwords as fast as possible, particularly for anything financial. Cybercriminals are targeting money through compromising the users’ identity – his username and password. So, get on the next level of security using fingertips or facial recognition.
4. Move your personal as well as professional data to the cloud, which has advanced threat detection mechanisms and analytics to spot any attempt. Even if you are hit by some ransomware, the chances of restoring the stolen data are higher because everything is backed up.
5. Make the right hardware selection and always refresh it. We are in a time where a number of security improvement processes are reliant on new processors and chip sets that come with embedded security features. Buy a new personal computer with a trusted computing module that has fingerprint or biometric cameras as additional measures of protection.
All couples are unique and have to create a financial blueprint that is most suitable for their relationship, says Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial. He offers his top five tips for couples to better manage their finances.
Discuss your assets and debts: When married, it’s important to understand each other’s personal financial situation. It’s necessary to know upfront what each party brings to the table, as debts and assets affect spending habits and joint loan qualifications. Discussing all aspects of their finances as a couple prevents anyone from being blindsided later.
Decide on the financial/saving goals: Spouses should independently list their top goals and share their lists with one another to shape a joint plan. Writing down clear goals will help them determine how much to save each month, how much to put aside for short-term goals, and how they will reach their long-term financial goals.
Set a budget: A budget can keep the couple be mindful of their income and expenses. With a monthly budget, couples will know exactly how much they can spend in a category each month, how much they have to work with and what spending areas need to be evaluated.
Decide who manages what: When it comes to handling finances, it’s a good idea to decide who manages what. For example, one person might take on the day-to-day bills, while the other tackles long-term investments and retirement plans.
Money date nights: Talking about money should be a healthy, ongoing conversation and couples should not wait for something to go wrong. They should set time aside every month to talk about future financial decisions and see the progress they’ve made together towards accomplishing their goals.
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
The Owo building is 14 storeys high, seven of which are below ground, with the 30,000 square feet of amenities located subterranean, including a 16-seat private cinema, seven lounges, a gym, games room, treatment suites and bicycle storage.
A clear distinction between the residences and the Raffles hotel with the amenities operated separately.
Tuesday
Mairobr v Liverpool
Spartak Moscow v Sevilla
Feyenoord v Shakhtar Donetsk
Manchester City v Napoli
Monaco v Besiktas
RB Leipzig v Porto
Apoel Nicosia v Borussia Dortmund
Real Madrid v Tottenham Hotspur
Wednesday
Benfica v Manchester United
CSKA Moscow v Basel
Bayern Munich v Celtic
Anderlecht v Paris Saint-Germain
Qarabag v Atletico Madrid
Chelsea v Roma
Barcelona v Olympiakos
Juventus v Sporting Lisbon
When the W Dubai – The Palm hotel opens at the end of this year, one of the highlights will be Massimo Bottura’s new restaurant, Torno Subito, which promises “to take guests on a journey back to 1960s Italy”. It is the three Michelinstarred chef’s first venture in Dubai and should be every bit as ambitious as you would expect from the man whose restaurant in Italy, Osteria Francescana, was crowned number one in this year’s list of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants.
Akira Back Dubai
Another exciting opening at the W Dubai – The Palm hotel is South Korean chef Akira Back’s new restaurant, which will continue to showcase some of the finest Asian food in the world. Back, whose Seoul restaurant, Dosa, won a Michelin star last year, describes his menu as, “an innovative Japanese cuisine prepared with a Korean accent”.
Dinner by Heston Blumenthal
The highly experimental chef, whose dishes are as much about spectacle as taste, opens his first restaurant in Dubai next year. Housed at The Royal Atlantis Resort & Residences, Dinner by Heston Blumenthal will feature contemporary twists on recipes that date back to the 1300s, including goats’ milk cheesecake. Always remember with a Blumenthal dish: nothing is quite as it seems.
