Donald Trump moved centre stage of flood recovery efforts in Texas on Tuesday, thanking emergency workers for their efforts and reassuring affected residents that everything was being done to help restore shattered lives.
He and Melania Trump, the first lady, began their visit in Corpus Christie, close to where Hurricane Harvey made landfall on Friday.
Their motorcade passed shredded trees and broken fences as they travelled to a fire station for a briefing with local officials.
Mr Trump’s handling of his first major natural disaster marks the biggest test of his time in office so far and critics will be watching to see whether he can master the language of unity needed in a time of crisis or whether federal recovery efforts come unstuck – as they did for George W Bush in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina.
The president sensed as much when he addressed a room of local officials, saying he did not want to congratulate anyone yet.
Instead he said he wanted the Texas response to be seen as a model for the future.
“This was of epic proportions,” he said, as if using the language of his Trump brand to stamp his authority on the disaster.
“We want to do it better than ever before. We want to be looked at in five years, in 10 years from now as, ‘This is the way to do it.’”
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The president wore a black rain jacket with the presidential seal on his chest and a white cap that said "USA" for the trip.
His wife sparked a huge online backlash when she was photographed before flying to Texas wearing a flying jacket, aviator sunglasses and stiletto heels. By the time she arrived in Corpus Christi she had changed to a sensible pair of white training shoes and a baseball cap with the logo “Flotus” - acronym of the first lady of the US.
Critics have already raised concerns that the visit may divert resources from crucial lifesaving efforts elsewhere. But officials pointed out he had avoided Houston, where emergency services are still overwhelmed by calls for help, as a result.
One neighbourhood to the south of the city set a record this week, receiving 1.29 metres of rain – the heaviest deluge from a tropical storm since records began.
Already as many as 15 people are feared dead, with officials saying that number will rise as waters recede and their searches turn to recovery rather than rescue.
On Tuesday, Sylvester Turner, mayor of Houston, confirmed that Sergeant Steve Perez, a police force veteran, died after getting trapped in his car as he drove to work.
Rescuers are still trying to reach many more who remain stranded since the hurricane, now downgraded to a tropical storm, came ashore.
Sarah Huckabee Sanders, White House press secretary, told reporters traveling with Mr Trump that the president's visit was focused on coordination among different levels of government and laying the groundwork for what is expected to be a lengthy recovery effort.
"The president wants to be very cautious about making sure that any activity doesn't disrupt the recovery efforts that are still ongoing," she said.
Throughout the operation, the nightmare of Katrina has loomed large in news coverage and the minds of local and national officials. The name of the hurricane became a byword for federal mismanagement as almost 2,000 people died during its aftermath.
Brock Long, the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, talked up the shelters that have been established for those who were forced to evacuate the storm, assuring the public the shelters were well-organised and well-stocked.
“Let me be clear, this is not the Superdome,” he said, referring to the New Orleans football stadium that descended into chaos when it was used as a makeshift shelter after Katrina.
After his briefing, Mr Trump stood between two fire engines and addressed a crowd of hundreds of people outside.
“What a crowd. What a turnout," he said, adopting the style that has become well known at his campaign rallies.
“This is historic. It's epic what happened, but you know what, it happened in Texas, and Texas can handle anything.”
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.
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Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
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Managing the separation process
- Choose your nursery carefully in the first place
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- The longer you stay, the more upset your child will become. As difficult as it is, walk away. Say a proper goodbye and reassure your child that you will be back
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The Sand Castle
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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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.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
