English हिन्दी
Connect with us

Latest world news

The Unstoppable Donald

Published

9 years ago

on

The Unstoppable Donald

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The stay on his executive order banning entry of foreign nationals from seven predominantly Muslim countries to the United States may have been upheld in court, but mere technicalities will not dishearten the American president who has now learnt his lesson and will plan his course carefully 

By Sujit Bhar

US President Donald Trump’s exhortations about “so-called” judges and about how he will have the several bans on his executive order on immigration from seven Muslim states “overturned” hit a huge hurdle on February 9. A three-judge bench of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit was unanimous in upholding the decision of a Federal District Court judge which had stayed the implementation of Trump’s executive order.

The district judge’s order had provided a temporary stay, and the decision of the bench is also a temporary one. If one knows Trump—and of late people have come to know his arrogance a little too well—he will not stop till the Supreme Court.

The order itself, which runs into 28 pages (plus one), has considered the circumstances under which an emergency order was sought from the Justice Department to have the district court ban lifted. And the bench was not satisfied. The court has been able to look into the immediate reality, an area Trump didn’t really care about while placing the blanket ban.

The bench said it considered “several factors, including… the degree of hardship caused by a stay or its denial, and the public interest in granting or denying a stay”. It was a technical judgement, which relied on the wording of the appeal of the Justice Department. The bench said: “We hold that the government has not shown a likelihood of success on the merits of its appeal, nor has it shown that failure to enter a stay would cause irreparable injury, and we therefore deny its emergency motion for a stay.”

The court order, therefore, does not look into the merits or demerits of the broader Trump executive order. Neither does it need to, at this point. What it needed to satisfy itself with was whether the Justice Department’s appeal to lift the ban itself has merit. The bench found that it does not.

The Justice Department’s appeal was possibly hastily prepared, without paying heed to specifics that seasoned judges would pounce on quickly. When an argument comes in front of judges, asking for the repeal of an order, the issue would be read from the last, backwards. This one got stuck within the periphery of the appeal itself. It had asked for a blanket withdrawal, as was wont, but the argument hinged on a total rejection, without scrutiny, because the two states seemingly cannot sue. The critical reason for rejecting the appeal wasn’t a broad sociopolitical one. It was because, among others, it would not allow eligible and meritorious foreign students to come in and attend universities.

This is a technical glitch for Trump and his band of men. They aren’t going to back out and walk into the sunset. The administration has said clearly that it will use “every legal means” to reinstate Trump’s executive order. So the legal battle continues, while experts look at what is extent of the US president’s power in enforcing an executive order.

Frankly, as it seems today, the powers are calibrated against the president being able to coerce the citizenry into doing things that would be harmful for society.

Interestingly, though “social harm” and national security happen to be the crux of Trump’s order. If national security is taken out of the order, “social harm” would assume immense proportions, with as many interpretations as there are races and sects. That would be hard to negotiate and create a legal minefield. Trump is not averse to walking that minefield, however.

As a beginning, Trump has declared that the district judge who blocked his travel ban remains responsible in the event of an attack on America. He castigated Judge James Robart for placing American lives in “peril”, because the blockade of the travel ban would supposedly result in terrorists from those seven Muslim countries “pouring in” to the country, endangering all.

However strange this contention, it was his primary peg for hanging his travel ban on the wall. That was what gave him the courage to declare, at a gala at the Mar a Lago resort in Florida (where he was holidaying): “We’ll win. For the safety of the country, we’ll win.”

It wasn’t surprising that Trump was quiet (till the time of writing this he has not spoken against the court order), while leaving a hapless Vice-President Mike Pence to cover for him, that too on the administration’s favourite Fox News. Pence has been quoted as saying: “We’re going to continue to use all legal means at our disposal to stay that order and move forward to take the steps necessary to protect our country.”

But The Donald has not been able to take the Mickey out of Pence, it seems. He still possesses a mind that can think. About the district judge’s order Pence has not called it “ridiculous”, like Trump has, but has been quoted as saying: “He (the judge) certainly does (have the authority to block the ban), and that’s why the administration is complying with that order as we speak.”

The fight will continue, and this time the Justice Department and the administration will surely be more careful.

One part of the order of the appellate bench says: “…The necessary connection can be drawn in at most two logical steps: (1) the executive order prevents nationals of seven countries from entering Washington and Minnesota; (2) as a result, some of these people will not enter state universities, some will not join those universities as faculty, some will be prevented from performing research, and some will not be permitted to return if they leave.”

If you read this carefully, probably the fight will not be just about the travel ban. It could well evolve into an avatar against the new anti-H1B acts that are progressing through the law-making processes even as we speak.

That will be another story.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

Latest world news

Byju’s founder Byju Raveendran sentenced to six months in jail by Singapore court over asset orders

In a major setback, a Singapore court has sentenced Byju’s founder Byju Raveendran to six months in prison for contempt after he failed to comply with multiple court orders regarding his assets.

Published

8 hours ago

on

May 27, 2026

By

In a massive legal blow to the founder of the failed Indian educational technology firm Think & Learn Pvt (better known as Byju’s), a Singapore court has sentenced Byju Raveendran to six months in jail for contempt of court.

The court ordered the jail term after concluding that Raveendran had deliberately disobeyed multiple judicial directives regarding his personal assets, dating as far back as April 2024.

Disobedience of asset orders leads to prison sentence

According to people familiar with the matter, the Singapore court has instructed Raveendran to immediately surrender himself to the officials. Alongside the six-month prison sentence, the Byju’s founder has been ordered to pay legal costs amounting to S$90,000 (approximately $70,500). Furthermore, he has been mandated to provide documents verifying his official legal ownership of Beeaar Investco Pte, a corporate entity that holds equity shares in a related firm.

At the time of reporting, it remains unclear whether Raveendran is currently residing in Singapore or located elsewhere, and he did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Escalating global legal battles

This sentencing marks the latest and perhaps most severe setback for the entrepreneur, who once achieved billionaire status amid a massive wave of global capital flowing into Indian start-ups. Today, Raveendran is being rigorously pursued by foreign investors across international jurisdictions. This includes intensifying legal battles in the United States, where global lenders are actively trying to recover heavy financial losses stemming from a defaulted $1.2 billion loan.

Media reports indicate that the ongoing Singapore court proceedings represent a broadening web of legal and financial crises following the operational collapse of the once-celebrated edtech giant.

Continue Reading

Latest world news

US hits Iranian missile sites and mine-laying boats near Strait of Hormuz amid peace talks

US Central Command executed targeted strikes against Iranian missile launch sites and mine-laying vessels near Bandar Abbas, testing a fragile ceasefire even as high-stakes diplomatic talks continue in the region.

Published

1 day ago

on

May 26, 2026

By

In a major development testing a fragile regional ceasefire, the United States military carried out targeted strikes in southern Iran on Monday. The operation hit missile launch sites and vessels allegedly attempting to lay mines near the crucial Strait of Hormuz, according to statements from the US Central Command (CENTCOM).

The military action took place near Bandar Abbas, a prominent southern port city hosting a primary Iranian naval base. Media reporting indicated that explosions were heard across multiple coastal locations, including Sirik and Jask.

Focus on ‘Self-Defense’ Amid Active Ceasefire

A spokesperson for CENTCOM, Capt. Tim Hawkins, confirmed that the engagement was defensive in nature. “US forces conducted self-defense strikes in southern Iran today to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces,” Hawkins stated. He noted that the operational targets included active missile launch sites alongside Iranian boats attempting to emplace naval mines. Despite the escalation, CENTCOM emphasized that it continues to exercise restraint under the parameters of the ongoing ceasefire brokered in early April.

According to media reports, the tactical response was triggered when two Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) boats were detected laying mines in the strategic shipping lane. Additionally, a surface-to-air missile site reportedly targeted American warplanes, prompting US forces to neutralize both the vessels and the missile installations. Media channels citing local updates indicated that four individuals were killed in the strikes, though the complete casualty figures remain unverified.

Diplomatic Dialogue Continues in Parallel

The strikes coincide with a critical phase of diplomatic negotiations aimed at extending the current truce. Top Iranian negotiators traveled to Qatar early this week to discuss a potential 60-day extension of the ceasefire, alongside provisions to keep the Strait of Hormuz fully operational for global trade.

US officials maintain that the military action does not signal an end to the active truce. A senior administration source clarified that the specific operations are “over for now”. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking from India, affirmed that diplomatic channels remain open and active. Rubio stated that intensive language discussions regarding the initial documents are ongoing, reiterating that the opening of the strategic strait remains a core objective.

Meanwhile, political leaders in Washington have separately reiterated demands for the secured disposal or international transfer of enriched uranium stockpiles as part of any comprehensive long-term agreement.

Continue Reading

Latest world news

US announces new America First visa schedule to boost business ties with India

During his official state visit to New Delhi, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a new America First visa schedule designed to prioritise business professionals and boost bilateral trade efficiency.

Published

4 days ago

on

May 23, 2026

By

In a significant development aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation, the United States has introduced a new “America First” visa schedule. The policy update was announced by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio during his official four-day visit to India. The new schedule is specifically designed to prioritise business professionals who play a key role in fortifying trade and strategic connections between the two nations.

Speaking about the initiative in the national capital, the top US diplomat clarified that the updated framework will not only assist visa applicants but will also significantly enhance operational productivity for the diplomatic mission. “We’re introducing a new America First visa schedule that prioritises business professionals that strengthen these ties,” Rubio stated. He added that the arrangement will enable the system to process applications with greater accuracy, speed, and efficiency.

Focus on Indo-Pacific and regional security

The announcement coincided with high-level discussions between the visiting diplomat and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The meeting, which lasted for over an hour, covered critical areas of bilateral interest, including trade, energy security, strategic technologies, defence cooperation, and the ongoing West Asia crisis. During the interaction, Rubio extended an official invitation from US President Donald Trump for PM Modi to visit the White House in the near future.

The US Secretary of State described the partnership between New Delhi and Washington as a foundational cornerstone of America’s overarching strategy for the Indo-Pacific region. Highlighting India’s central role, Rubio noted that his very first official engagement upon taking office was a meeting of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad), emphasizing that hosting the upcoming foreign ministers’ meeting in India acts as a tangible sign of the deep commitment to this framework.

Clarification on immigration rules

Addressing separate concerns regarding recent shifts in American immigration policies, the top diplomat provided a crucial clarification regarding the new guidelines for permanent residency. Media reports had previously highlighted anxieties surrounding a newly instituted rule that requires many legal immigrants to exit the US and apply for green cards from their home countries.

Rubio explicitly stated to the media that these measures are universal regulatory updates rather than policy shifts targeted at any specific nation. He reassured that the rule is applicable globally to all international applicants and is not directed exclusively at Indian citizens.

The visit marks Rubio’s first official trip to India since assuming office. His comprehensive itinerary began in Kolkata and includes a scheduled bilateral dialogue with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, alongside participation in the Quad Foreign Ministers’ meeting alongside international counterparts.

Continue Reading

Trending

© Copyright 2022 APNLIVE.com