Tuesday marks exactly six months in office for US President Joe Biden, and Congress is expected to begin voting on his proposed bipartisan infrastructure package later this week.
It is unclear whether the president has the 10 Republican votes needed to pass the legislation, highlighting the difficulty of scoring victories in an evenly split Senate, with Vice President Kamala Harris’s tiebreaking vote handing narrow control to the Democrats.
While it is too early to judge the success or failure of many of Mr Biden’s legislative priorities and policies, so far the Biden administration has achieved at least three significant victories — and three setbacks.
Wins
Vaccine Distribution
Mr Biden exceeded his first two ambitious Covid vaccination goals upon taking office, flying past his campaign pledge of administering 100 million shots during his first 100 days.
His administration met this goal a month early and upped the ante to 200 million shots by the president’s 100th day in April — an objective Mr Biden also met.
While the vaccine distribution campaign has allowed large sections of the country to lift the vast majority of Covid restrictions, more work remains to be done.
Almost half of American adults are now fully vaccinated — but that is a far cry from Mr Biden's third vaccine goal of inoculating 70 per cent of American adults by July 4. The rate of people receiving shots has dropped sharply amid conspiracy theories and widespread misinformation about the effects of vaccines. Covid-19 rates are again rising across the country.
Economic Stimulus
Mr Biden and his Democratic allies in Congress passed the American Rescue Plan, a $1.9 trillion economic stimulus package to combat the effects of the pandemic on the US economy.
In addition to providing $1,400 stimulus checks to many US taxpayers, the package extended a $400 per week unemployment benefit through August and provided relief to renters and mortgage holders. It also allocated billions of dollars in small business loans as well as funds for hospitals and struggling state and local governments.
The bill did not receive a single Republican vote as Democrats in Congress used a procedural mechanism called budget reconciliation to circumvent the 60-vote threshold needed to pass most legislation the Senate.
Travel Ban
Mr Biden signed a series of executive actions on his first day in office, undoing many of the policies of former president Donald Trump.
The Day One action with the most immediate effect was Mr Biden’s reversal of Mr Trump’s travel ban barring most immigration to the US from several Muslim majority countries, including Iran, Yemen, Syria, Libya and Somalia. The travel ban also prohibited most immigration from Venezuela and Nigeria.
Losses
$15 Minimum Wage
Although Mr Biden threw his support behind raising the $7.25 per hour US federal minimum wage to $15 per hour, the effort came up against a wall in Congress amid opposition from Republicans and centrist Democrats in the Senate.
Democrats had initially tried to pass a $15 minimum wage increase as part of the American Rescue Plan, but the Senate parliamentarian ruled the provision would prevent the party from passing the stimulus bill.
The progressive wing of the party urged Ms Harris to use her power as presiding officer of the Senate to overrule the parliamentarian to allow Democrats to pass it with only 50 Senate votes, but she opted not to do so after Democratic centrists such as Kyrsten Sinema and Joe Manchin went on record as opposing the increase.
Mr Biden did sign an executive order in April that raises the minimum wage for federal contractors to $15 per hour.
Immigration
The Supreme Court dealt a major blow to Mr Biden’s immigration agenda last week when it struck down the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals programme, which used executive action to shield and provide work authorisation for undocumented immigrants who were brought to the US by their parents as young children.
Republicans have also attacked Mr Biden on immigration as he grapples with an increase in migrants at the US-Mexico border, with 1.1 million apprehensions reported so far this fiscal year.
And while Mr Biden had pledged to end the detention of child migrants, his administration has in fact opened additional facilities to incarcerate young migrants. Democrats heavily criticised this practice under the Trump administration and Mr Biden’s decision to continue detaining migrant children has drawn ire from many in his own party.
Federal Voting Rights Protection
Mr Biden and his fellow Democrats failed to advance legislation last month to strengthen voter rights protections even as a slew of Republican states successfully continued to pass voting restriction laws.
The federal voting rights protection bill failed in the Senate after a tie 50-50 vote along party lines that did not clear the 60-vote threshold required to pass most legislation in the upper chamber under a procedural mechanism called the filibuster.
Mr Biden delivered a speech on the importance of protecting voting rights in Pennsylvania last week – the same day that Democrats from the Texas state legislature flew to Washington in order to prevent the necessary quorum Republicans in the state would need to pass a new voting restriction law during a special session.
But voting rights activists have accused Mr Biden of failing to prioritise the issue, pointing to the lack of White House effort to push for filibuster reform, which would lower the Senate vote threshold needed to pass a federal voter protection law. Several Democratic centrists in the Senate, including Ms Sinema and Mr Manchin, are on record as opposing a major filibuster overhaul.
In addition to voting rights, the Senate filibuster threatens to stymie many other major legislative initiatives championed by Mr Biden, including a major police reform bill.
India squad
Virat Kohli (captain), Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, K.L. Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Rishabh Pant, Shivam Dube, Kedar Jadhav, Ravindra Jadeja, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Deepak Chahar, Mohammed Shami, Shardul Thakur.
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
MATCH INFO
Tottenham 4 (Alli 51', Kane 50', 77'. Aurier 73')
Olympiakos 2 (El-Arabi 06', Semedo')
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
The details
Heard It in a Past Life
Maggie Rogers
(Capital Records)
3/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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.
Criteria: Applicants must have a minimum net worth of $250,000. The process take six to eight weeks, after which the investor must travel to Vanuatu or Hong Kong to take the oath of allegiance. Citizenship and passport are normally provided on the same day.
Benefits: No tax, no restrictions on dual citizenship, no requirement to visit or reside to retain a passport. Visa-free access to 129 countries.
Company%20profile%20
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Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
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
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
Ticket prices
- Golden circle - Dh995
- Floor Standing - Dh495
- Lower Bowl Platinum - Dh95
- Lower Bowl premium - Dh795
- Lower Bowl Plus - Dh695
- Lower Bowl Standard- Dh595
- Upper Bowl Premium - Dh395
- Upper Bowl standard - Dh295
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
RESULTS
5pm: Maiden | Dh80,000 | 1,600m
Winner: AF Al Moreeb, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)
5.30pm: Handicap | Dh80,000 | 1,600m
Winner: AF Makerah, Adrie de Vries, Ernst Oertel
6pm: Handicap | Dh80,000 | 2,200m
Winner: Hazeme, Richard Mullen, Jean de Roualle
6.30pm: Handicap | Dh85,000 | 2,200m
Winner: AF Yatroq, Brett Doyle, Ernst Oertel
7pm: Shadwell Farm for Private Owners Handicap | Dh70,000 | 2,200m
Winner: Nawwaf KB, Patrick Cosgrave, Helal Al Alawi
7.30pm: Handicap (TB) | Dh100,000 | 1,600m
Winner: Treasured Times, Bernardo Pinheiro, Rashed Bouresly
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
MEDIEVIL%20(1998)
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Squid Game season two
Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk
Stars: Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun
Rating: 4.5/5
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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If you go
Flying
Despite the extreme distance, flying to Fairbanks is relatively simple, requiring just one transfer in Seattle, which can be reached directly from Dubai with Emirates for Dh6,800 return.
Touring
Gondwana Ecotours’ seven-day Polar Bear Adventure starts in Fairbanks in central Alaska before visiting Kaktovik and Utqiarvik on the North Slope. Polar bear viewing is highly likely in Kaktovik, with up to five two-hour boat tours included. Prices start from Dh11,500 per person, with all local flights, meals and accommodation included; gondwanaecotours.com
