Rubio blasts Trump for failing to criticize Ku Klux Klan

ALCOA, Tenn. -- Florida Sen. Marco Rubio on Monday once again blasted Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump for failing to denounce the Ku Klux Klan.

Trump appeared Monday on NBC's "Today" show and claimed that a "very bad earpiece" caused him to mishear a question he was asked Sunday on CNN about David Duke, the former KKK leader. Duke has endorsed Trump, saying that  voting for anyone but him "is really treason to your heritage."

Failing to denounce Duke means that Trump is "unelectable now," Rubio told supporters in an airplane hanger here.

"I don’t care how bad the earpiece is, Ku Klux Klan comes through pretty clearly – and he refuses to criticize it," Rubio said to cheers from the crowd.

"The media knows Donald Trump can’t win. And that is why they are giving him a pass," he added. "You think they don’t know all these things about his business record? You think they don’t know all of these stories? You know what they’re doing? They’re waiting ... like the hounds of hell, they will shred him to pieces" once he's the GOP nominee.

Rubio made the remarks at the first of his five stops Monday, a packed day of campaigning ahead of Super Tuesday, when 11 states will reward 595 delegates on a proportional basis.

Speaking to a crowd that filled about three-fourths of the airplane hanger, former congressman Zach Wamp began the rally by telling the crowd the GOP needs to be more inclusive because "people who are Caucasian are going to be in the minority very soon." Rubio was introduced by Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam, both of whom endorsed the senator over the weekend.

Alexander said that his younger Senate colleague "can bring out the best in our country," while Haslam said he's backing Rubio because "he served in a state government" as a Florida state lawmaker.

Rubio sounded hoarse Monday morning -- he said he's starting to sound like crooner Barry White -- but he repeated personal jabs at Trump that he's been using in recent days. He suggested that a plane buzzing overhead was carrying Trump and called "Hair Force One." He reminded the crowd that Trump used undocumented immigrant laborers to build the Trump Tower. But he sprinkled his jabs with concern that Trump is on the verge of upending the Republican Party and the nation.

On Sunday night in Virginia, Rubio launched an especially pointed attack on Trump's physical appearance, telling supporters that the party front-runner has "small hands" and pores clogged with spray tan.

"You cannot have a policy debate with someone with no policies," Rubio told supporters in Salem, Va. "We cannot turn over the conservative movement to a con artist."

In addition to his Tennessee stop, Rubio is scheduled to appear in Atlanta's Buckhead neighborhood at midday; at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, Ark., in the afternoon; and in Oklahoma City and Tulsa, Okla., Monday night. On Tuesday he is scheduled to hold a rally in Minneapolis before heading home to Miami for what his team is calling a "Florida Kick-Off Rally," the formal launch of his campaign to win the March 15 Florida GOP primary.

O'Keefe, Ed. "Rubio blasts Trump for failing to criticize the Ku Klux Klan." 29 Feb. 2016. The Washington Post. 29 Feb. 2016. <https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/02/29/rubio-blasts-trump-for-failing-to-criticize-ku-klux-klan/>.

Response:

This article talks about the Donald Trump, who is currently running towards United States presidency. According to this article, Donald Trump has "failed to criticize the Ku Klux Klan" when questions regarding the former leader of Ku Klux Klan has been raised on CNN. One of his opponents, Sen. Marco Rubio has criticized his failure to criticize the Ku Klux Klan, which is a racial discrimination group with a strong white superiority in it. Although the article presents actual quotes by Marco Rubio and Donald Trump, it does not give multiple aspects or view points of the issue, and seems to be bias against Donald Trump. The article raises the question, who will be the president of the United States? Will Donald Trump fail to be elected as the president as the article states that the media is waiting for him to be elected as the "GOP nominee"?

Ugandan opposition leader arrested as election outcry growsUgandan opposition leader arrested as election outcry grows

Police arrested Uganda’s main opposition leader, Kizza Besigye, for the fourth time in eight days on Monday, after an election that the United States and European Union have criticized and the opposition reject as fraudulent.

Police also stormed Besigye’s Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party headquarters and arrested eight people, one member said, two days after President Yoweri Museveni, 71 and in power for 30 years, was declared the winner of the February 18th vote.

The EU observer mission said the vote had been conducted in an “intimidating” atmosphere and the United States has voiced concerns about the frequent arrests of Mr Besigye.

Police said they detained Mr Besigye as he was preparing to lead supporters to the Electoral Commission headquarters in the capital Kampala to collect the official results, and that he had not obtained government consent.

“We have arrested people who are planning to cause violence in Kampala city centre,” police spokesman, Patrick Onyango, said.

But Ingrid Turinawe, a senior FDC official, said Mr Besigye was attempting to gather evidence as part of his challenging of the election result. A second FDC official said that police had raided party headquarters, confiscating documents and arresting eight people.

Mr Museveni has presided over strong economic growth but is accused at home and abroad of repression of dissent and failing to tackle rampant corruption. Critics say he wants to rule for life, emulating other African leaders who refuse to give up power.

On Friday, US secretary of state John Kerry called Mr Museveni to voice concern over the harassment of opposition figures and the shutdown of social media in Uganda, where Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp were blocked on election day.

Mr Museveni said he told Mr Kerry “not to worry” about Uganda’s election and dismissed EU accusations that electoral commission had favoured him and his National Resistance Movement (NRM).

“I told those Europeans ... I don’t need lectures from anybody,” Mr Museveni told reporters in his country home in Kiruhura, southwestern Uganda.

Mr Museveni last clashed with Western donors in 2014, when Uganda passed a law that imposes harsh penalties on homosexuality. In response, donors cut aid, but largely restored it later when the law was repealed by a Ugandan court.

Questions about the election’s fairness puts Western donors in an awkward position: Mr Museveni, an important ally in the region, is leading mediation to end conflict in Burundi and contributes 5,000 Ugandan troops to the African Union force in Somalia that has brought a measure of stability to the country.

Stephanie Wolters, an analyst at the Institute for Security Studies, said of the criticism from Western powers was “the kind of stuff that the international community has to say”.

“I don’t think it’s going to translate into longer-term criticism of the Museveni government, or any kind of significant shift in how donors interact with that country,” she said.

"Ugandan opposition leader arrested as election outcry grows." 22 Feb. 2016. The Irish Times. 22 Feb. 2016. <http://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/africa/ugandan-opposition-leader-arrested-as-election-outcry-grows-1.2544173 >.

Response:

The article gives information on the current events regarding the presidential election in Uganda. The article is specifically about the police arresting opposition groups of the election results and specifically arresting the opposition leader Kizza Besigye. The president of Uganda, President Museveni, has spoken to his people through a reporter saying "I told the Europeans… I don't need lectures from anybody." This quote shows Mr Museveni's pride in his ruling even though he is facing so much opposition from multiple groups. The government and the police forces are being accused of arresting and confiscating documents that belong to the opposition group in attempts to reduce any uprisings. The article does not seem to be extremely bias, but may be against the current president in a small way since it seems to present that President Museveni is arresting any opposition and is not willing to cooperate with other countries. What I think about the issue is that it may be time for some type of a new leader in Uganda since President Museveni has served in office for such a long time, but he is not willing to give his place up. Something has to happen, but since military coup or civil war may bring more destruction than benefit, there isn't much that can be done. Possible resolutions may be foreign forces that helps the country to have a proper election, but since President Museveni is not accepting it, there isn't a way that could solve this problem. The only thing that seems reasonable and the least destructive is that the country waits until President Museveni retires and some other leader takes over.

UN agencies warn of escalating food crisis in South Sudan

ROME, 08 February 2016 / PRN Africa / — South Sudan is facing unprecedented levels of food insecurity, as 2.8 million people — nearly 25 percent of the country's population — remain in urgent need of food assistance, and at least 40,000 people are on the brink of catastrophe, three UN agencies warned today.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the World Food Programme (WFP) stressed that these numbers are particularly worrisome because they show an increase in hunger during the post-harvest period — a time when the country is traditionally most food secure.

The number of food insecure people is expected to peak during the coming lean season — traditionally worst between April and July — when food availability is lowest. Humanitarian partners have released an update to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis, which projects that the lean season will start early this year, and the hunger period will be longer than in previous years.

The three UN agencies noted that the dry season, which is now beginning, could bring additional hardship to people facing the most severe levels of hunger. People displaced in conflict-affected Unity State, who have been living on fish and water lilies to survive, are running out of their only remaining sources of food as the floods recede. Livestock raiding has robbed many people of essential animal products like milk, which were their main means of survival during last year's lean season. Unless humanitarian assistance can reliably reach them during the dry season, they face catastrophe in the coming months.

For this reason, the UN agencies are calling for a speedy implementation of the peace agreement signed last year, and for unrestricted access to conflict areas to deliver much needed supplies to the most affected areas.

"It is not only areas directly affected by conflict that are food insecure — some 200,000 people in Northern Bahr El Ghazal and Warrap states have also seen their access to food deteriorate, owing to factors such as price inflation and market disruptions that are tied to the conflict," said Serge Tissot, Acting FAO Representative in South Sudan. "Prompt implementation of the peace agreement is absolutely critical to improving the food situation."

"During the dry season, we must make a massive pre-positioning effort so that we can continue assisting people after roads become impassable once the rains come," said WFP Country Director Joyce Luma. "Rising insecurity in Greater Equatoria is hampering delivery of humanitarian assistance through major routes, setting back our efforts to prepare and respond to people who are most in need."

Today's IPC report also highlights the overall prevalence of emergency levels of malnutrition as an issue of grave concern. Malnutrition in South Sudan is attributed mostly to inadequate food consumption, along with other factors such as disease, dietary habits, as well as constrained health and nutrition service delivery.

"Families have been doing everything they can to survive but they are now running out of options," said Jonathan Veitch, UNICEF representative in South Sudan. "Many of the areas where the needs are greatest are out of reach because of the security situation. It's crucial that we are given unrestricted access now. If we can reach them, we can help them."

Working with a large number of international and local non-governmental organizations, FAO, UNICEF and WFP continue to deliver life- and livelihood-saving support under difficult circumstances.

FAO plans to assist 2.8 million people in producing food and protecting their livestock assets in 2016, compared to 2.4 million people reached last year. FAO emergency livelihood support includes crop kits, vegetable kits, fishing kits and livestock vaccinations of more than 5 million head of cattle.

UNICEF has set a target of treating more than 165,000 children for severe acute malnutrition (SAM) in 2016. Last year the number of children treated for SAM surpassed 144,000, which was a 53 percent increase over 2014.

WFP delivered food and nutrition assistance to some 3 million people across South Sudan in the last year, working with 87 NGO partners and using every tool at its disposal, including airdrops, river barges, cash-based transfers, local food purchases and specialized nutritious foods.

SOURCE Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

"UN Agencies warn of escalating food crisis in South Sudan." 8 Feb. 2016. StarAfrica.com. 9 Feb. 2016. <http://en.starafrica.com/news/un-agencies-warn-of-escalating-food-crisis-in-south-sudan-2.html>.

Response: 

This article is about the crisis of low food rate for the people living there. The author seems unbiased in that he seems to be presenting factual information instead of personal opinions. The articles states that the number of people who are not getting enough food is increasing even at a time where there number should be the lowest, which brings concerns for the country's dry season. It seems that international organizations are willing to help the country out if they are able to reach there without security issues.

Afghan Taliban open new front in war with attacks on media

KABUL, Afghanistan — The Taliban suicide bombing against a bus carrying employees of Afghanistan’s biggest media company last month has shocked local journalists, who fear they are now in the cross hairs of an increasingly lethal insurgency.

Journalism has always been a dangerous line of work in Afghanistan, and reporters have long had to contend with threats and occasional attacks by various armed groups. But after Tolo TV, the most popular Afghan broadcaster, falsely accused the Taliban of mass rape in a report carried late last year, the insurgents declared war.

“We saw in late 2015 a statement from the very highest levels of the Taliban staking out a very clear position that they are going to be deliberately targeting as ‘military objectives’ two of Afghanistan’s largest TV networks,” said Ahmad Shuja, a researcher with the New York-based Human Rights Watch.

Calling it “a watershed moment,” he said the Taliban now equate attacks on media with “any other military operations they’ve done and taken credit for — and the implications are chilling.”

In the Jan. 20 attack, a suicide bomber struck a bus belonging to the Moby Group, Tolo’s owner, killing seven people and wounding at least 25. The Taliban claimed responsibility, calling Tolo a tool of decadent Western influence and warning that other media outlets could be next.

The Taliban were angered by a Tolo report last year alleging that the insurgents had raped female university students during their brief occupation of the northern city of Kunduz. The station has acknowledged the allegations were false and said it clarified the report, but the Taliban have shown no sign of backing down.

“The Taliban came to the conclusion that media have become an obstacle against their war strategies, and they would have (attacked) it anyway,” said Najib Sharifi, director of the Afghan Journalists’ Safety Committee. “But the incident in the Kunduz report gave the Taliban an excuse on which to build and further to justify their attacks.”

Afghanistan’s intelligence service said it has arrested eight people in connection with the Tolo attack, all associated with the Haqqani network, a close Taliban ally based in neighboring Pakistan.

But many journalists have yet to return to work, fearing further attacks. An executive at 1TV, the other major media outlet that was threatened, said the intelligence service told him to move to a new home and buy a weapon. He also said a car bomb was recently defused outside the station’s gate. The executive spoke on condition of anonymity out of safety concerns.

The escalation in violence has cast a pall over the surprisingly vibrant media landscape that emerged after the 2001 U.S.-led invasion toppled the Taliban.

Afghanistan has 75 television networks, 175 radio stations and hundreds of newspapers, magazines and websites employing thousands of journalists, mainly young people who came of age after the brutal rule of the Taliban, who banned television. Afghan journalists are often alone in reporting from the front lines of the conflict, and have defied intimidation to challenge claims by the government, local warlords and the insurgents.

Reporters Without Borders ranked Afghanistan 122nd out of 180 countries in its World Press Freedom Index last year, up from the previous year but well below 2004, when Afghanistan was 97th. The low ranking reflects the dangers faced by local journalists, who work in conflict zones and face threats from all sides.

“Not all of us are everyday heroes,” Shuja said. “There’s only a certain amount of risk that all of us can take in the face of a diabolical enemy such as the Taliban.”

Relatives of those killed and wounded in the bus attack have complained about the security measures taken by Moby.

“What really kills me is that Tolo knew about the threats, even on that day, and didn’t insist on sending them in smaller cars, rather than in one bus — and then they were all attacked,” said Zahara Mirzaee, whose 25-year-old daughter Zainab, a boom operator, was killed.

The Afghanistan Journalists’ Federation has called on media owners to provide protection and compensation for their employees in accordance with existing laws. President Ashraf Ghani has promised to support and monitor media safety through a ministerial commission.

The Mirzaee family meanwhile fears for another daughter, Golsum, 27, who works at 1TV dubbing Turkish soap operas into Farsi. She hasn’t returned to work since the attack, despite the fact that she and her late sister were supporting the family.

“I’m afraid, but I just don’t know what to do,” she said. “If I don’t go back to work, then there will be no money coming in... I was going to go back yesterday, but I heard that the security service defused a car bomb at the gate. The risk is now very high.”

O'Donnell, Lynne. "Afghan Taliban open new front in war with attacks on media." 2 Feb. 2016. The Washington Post. 2 Feb. 2016. <https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/afghan-taliban-open-new-front-in-war-with-attacks-on-media/2016/02/02/11d27530-c975-11e5-b9ab-26591104bb19_story.html>.

Response:

The article presents information about the tension in Afghanistan between the media and Taliban. It gives information of the fear inside the country for those who work in the media department of the country, such as TV networks. The article seems to be informative without bias. The attacks against media need to stop in that it is killing innocent people who were only doing their jobs without trying to harm someone else. Possible way of doing this would be to raise the security on the part of the TV networks or other sources of media.