“Morning After Hurricane Maria”. Roosevelt Skerrit. https://flic.kr/p/YFixXU. No copyright.

Puerto Rico’s governor says there will be ‘hell to pay’ if officials withheld mortality data

Chairman Pai Proposes $954 Million Plan For Puerto Rico and USVI

“FCC Chairman Ajit Pai speaking at the 2018 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in National Harbor, Maryland.” Gage Skidmore. https://flic.kr/p/GBJEcW. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

Following the devastation in Puerto Rico, Chairman of the FCC, has proposed a $954 million plan to help restore networks in Puerto Rico. After months of struggling to get the much needed assistance the island sought from federal relief aid, the chairman proposed the long awaited plan back in March. The plan will direct the funds toward short-term assistance to help get communications back to normal operating standards and long-term assistance to help rebuild and restructure the broadband networks of the island for better and efficient access across the island. Not only will the funds be used to help repair the communications on the island, but also to ensure processes are in place to prevent anything from this extent to happen again in this years upcoming hurricane season.

This news was released by the FCC in attempts to make the public more aware of the efforts being taken to help the neighboring island. Further analyzation of this article also led me to the discovery that Puerto Rico was a major proponent for the repeal of the net neutrality rules, that was recently carried out by the current presidential administration. One of the major reasons the island may have been in favor of the new legislation is because according to the chair of the Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce, the same Verizon funded group that is helping to allocate funds for rebuilding on the island, is the same group that was in favor of putting the new legislation in place.

https://www.fcc.gov/document/chairman-pai-proposes-954-million-plan-puerto-rico-and-usvi (the actual article will have the option to be opened as a word document or pdf)

Jacob Zuma Appears in Court for South Africa Corruption Trial

Read the full story in the “Korea JooAng Daily.”

The past few weeks have been ripe with diplomatic development in East Asia.

Korean DMZ

Since President Trump agreed to meet with North Korea, every superpower in the region has jumped to meet with the North as well, starting with China this past March. Japan has also expressed interest in a bilateral summit. The agreement to have a direct phone line between the North and South of Korea is the latest development in this diplomatic flurry. The Korea JooAng Daily reports that the meeting took place in the town of Panmunjom, close to the border, and that the South intends to adopt proper diplomatic protocol for these interactions. Although the countries have been working towards increasingly normalized relations, the meeting with the POTUS has certainly acted as a catalyst for development.

Normalized relations between the North and South are not necessarily a bad thing at all. More often than not, these sorts of developments only help to ease diplomatic tension by increasing efficiency of communication, as shown by the direct phone line established between Washington D.C. and Moscow following the Cuban Missile Crisis. Although the phone line is rarely used, even one instance of circumventing a disaster speaks to its merit (such as the Six Day War – when Lyndon B. Johnson informed the Soviet Union of his plans with the Air Force). In the larger scope of international diplomacy, though, normalized relations with North Korea on a global scale is not as promising.

Kim Jong-un shakes hands with Xi Jinping

For a country like North Korea, relevance is survival. Relevance is really what is at the heart of the North’s nuclear program. For a nation on such precarious footing, the ability to stay in a position of notoriety is paramount – whether that be through arms capability, economic power, or diplomatic protection. In securing a meeting with the world’s most powerful office, Kim Jong-un has propelled his international clout in a way that the DPRK has never seen before. The risks of such a meeting going awry aside, at the very least this meeting will serve to validate North Korea in a way that is not in the best interest for global security – not to mention the 10 million people living within 35 miles from the DMZ. One can only hope that the Trump Administration does not underestimate Kim Jong-un, or the implications of this meeting.

The article I read was published in the Moscow Times on Friday, April 6th, and was an informative short article on the UN ambassador for the United States, Nikki Haley, and her opinion on future relations between the U.S. and Russia. Haley stated to students at  that the United States would never be “friends” with Russia during a Q&A session with students at Duke University. The article said that this was the second time she hadn’t stated something along these lines and emphasized how the Kremlin needs to act better in international deals to have more countries be willing to work with them and that the current U.S. administration would continue its current treatment of Russia. The article also ,enticing hiw the United States was planning in imposing sanctions on certain Russian oligarchs that had ties to the Kremlin.

This article gives a lot of key information about how the two government systems have been acting tiawrds each other in the current years and shows that it most likely will not be changing under the Trump administration and with the re-election of Putin without showing a strong bias in favor of Russia despite being a Russian newspaper.

Wikicommons. “Nikki Haley.” Moscow Times, 6 Apr. 2018, themoscowtimes.com/news/russia-will-never-be-our-friend-us-ambassador-says-61075.

“Bachelet urge a invertir en la salud y el futuro de mujeres y niñas”

“Bachelet encourages investment in the health and future of women and children”

This article examines Michelle Bachelet’s proposal in a recent United Nations session. In this session, Bachelet stresses the importance of major international investment for providing health services for all women and children. In addition, she stresses that the future of women and children should be given more importance and international focus, as they are two fundamental cores of every nation. Bachelet, who was president of Chile from 2014-2018, has been using her time out of office to focus primarily on her role of promoting investment for women and children around the world. Some of her primary goals have been to provide all women with resources for legal abortion as well as emphasize anti children work policies. In the end Bachelet suggests that every women and child should have the right to a handful of resources that are more important than political agendas.

This article comes from the online digital newspaper “El Mostrador”, which is known for its generalized and center point of view. I feel that Bachelet’s insistence of abortion rights was given a fair and positive light because it fits with the center left political view of Chile. With this being said, I liked that I was able to get this perspective from the article because I know that other traditional right newspapers would shine a negative light on Bachelet. This is so because Chile’s current President, Sebastian Piñera, is anti abortion. Having experienced both sides before, I feel this was a great example of having balanced sources.

Mostrador, El. “Bachelet Urge a Invertir En La Salud y El Futuro De Mujeres y Niñas.” El Mostrador, www.elmostrador.cl/noticias/pais/2018/04/07/bachelet-urge-a-invertir-en-la-salud-y-el-futuro-de-mujeres-y-ninas/.

The coach of the national soccer team in Senegal states that he and his team already have a solid idea of who they plan to take for the World Russia 2018 tour. He stated that this selection is not based purely on talent or that “he is the present or future of Senegal”, but because of how they have stuck by his side and always been with him. Aliou Cissé, the national coach, states that there are only a few seats available. Therefore, this is going to be a very difficult decision.

In general, soccer in Senegal is one of national pride and respect. The Senegal national football team, nicknamed the Lions of Teranga, is the national team of Senegal and is controlled by the Fédération Sénégalaise de Football.

Aliou Cissé states that although there are only 2 months left, the national team is not closed yet. There is still room for players with new and improved talent. They are still willing to add to the list in this way.

In fact, the World Russia 2018 tour is going to be one of great prestige and honor. It is scheduled to take place in Russia from 14 June to 15 July 2018 and it will host the men’s national teams of the member associations of FIFA. It will involve 32 national teams, which the finalists will end in Moscow, Russia.

There is a lot of pressure to choose the right players and Aliou Cissé is confident he will make the right decision.

Citation: “Football : Voici les19 Noms Déjà Cochés, plus Que 4 Places à Prendre…Regardez.” Sénégal, www.lesenegal.net/football-voici-les19-noms-deja-coches-plus-que-4-places-a-prendreregardez/.

“450 Électeurs Pour Désigner Le Prochain Président De La Fédération Sénégalaise De Football.” 2stv Senegal, 25 Aug. 2013, 2stv.net/450-electeurs-pour-designer-le-prochain-president-de-la-federation-senegalaise-de-football/.

El Salvador – Global New Post #6 – Taylor Oates

https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2018/apr/03/lawmakers-el-salvador-race-to-overturn-abortion-ban

Currently in El Salvador, abortion is banned under all circumstances since 1998. If women are accused of having an abortion, they are charged with aggravated homicide and could receive up to 50 years in jail. The medical professionals who assist the women with their abortions, while under this ban of abortions, would be jailed as well. In August of 2017, a bill was proposed which would legally allow abortion in some cases if it is passed. However, if lawmakers don’t move quickly the ban on abortion in El Salvador may stay due to a more conservative group potentially coming into power next election.

Johnny Wright Sol from the conservative party proposed the bill that would legalize abortion in cases where the mother’s life is endangered or a minor was raped, which is what the law was before 1998. However, in 1998 the constitution recognized life beginning at conception, hence the current law banning abortion. Despite Wright stating this would be the best time for this bill since it could receive the required 43-vote majority before the change in political power, his conservative ARENA party does not back him on this proposal. Wright says that El Salvador has a very paternalistic culture which is why they don’t have much say.

Women who have had miscarriages or still births have been sent to jail under the charge of aggravated murder, associated with abortion, for 30 plus years. There are currently dozens of women in jail who were falsely charged with abortions and all women want to change the law, but as women in this paternalistic culture, they are never listened to. Lorena Peña is also pushing a proposal close to this but it is less likely to pass. However, Peña says that if the reform is not approved in April, they need to continue trying because they can’t stay silent for another decade with such an important and life-compromising issue.

Latin America has the highest annual rate of abortion in the world with 44 women out of 1,000 having abortions. Also, about 7 million women in developing countries must receive treatments for complications and 47,000 women die due to the unsafe abortions they must have since abortion is illegal in most Latin American countries. Fortunately, several Latin American countries are starting to lift the ban on all abortions and are allowing them in cases of rape or where the life of the mother will be compromised.

I hope that El Salvador does pass this bill that allows women to have abortions in cases where the life of the mother will be compromised or where the woman was raped. I feel that if the mother wants to abort the baby, they will do it one way or another so why not try to keep their life safe in the process rather than leaving both the mother and unborn child to die. I feel that the jail sentences up to 50 years for an abortion is ridiculous because the mother is the one who would have to care for the child and in a developing country she may struggle to do so, therefore, she should have the choice to have that child or not. The fact that women have served full or even half sentences of fifteen years plus for after being convicted for aggravated murder when they had a miscarriage or still birth breaks my heart. Not only did those women have to suffer the tragic loss of their child, they were torn from the rest of their children or family and sent to jail for years for a “crime” they didn’t even commit. I am in full support of this bill allowing women the right to choose what they want to do with their bodies and unborn children under these horrendous circumstances, and I hope that the rest of El Salvador will vote to allow these women to have the right and choice that they deserve.

Works Cited

Welsh, Teresa. “’It’s Time-Critical’: the Race to Overturn Abortion Ban in El Salvador.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 3 Apr. 2018, www.theguardian.com/global-development/2018/apr/03/lawmakers-el-salvador-race-to-overturn-abortion-ban. Accessed 8 Apr. 2018.

Pena, Alex. Salvadoran Women Protest for the Abortion Ban to Be Overturned during a One-Day Strike to Defend Women’s Rights on International Women’s Day. Getty Images. https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2018/apr/03/lawmakers-el-salvador-race-to-overturn-abortion-ban#img-1. Accessed 8 Apr. 2018.

UAE schools urged to teach Arabic better as pupils lag behind in their own tongue

https://www.thenational.ae/uae/uae-schools-urged-to-teach-arabic-better-as-pupils-lag-behind-in-their-own-tongue-1.719829

This article outlines the current observations regarding the educational landscape regarding Arabic literacy. Within the United Arab Emirates a call for a restructure of the educational system has been made. Concerns have been raised regarding the subject material that is taught at specific levels. Some officials argue that despite the surveyed decline of literacy and language practice in Arabic, little has been done to correct the glaring issues within the school systems.

While the UAE prides itself on its welcoming position regarding  international business, granting zero income or  there has been a shift away from it’s Arabic language roots. A problem that Helen Abadzi,  a professor from the University of Texas at Arlington and education specialist at the World Bank for 27 years, highlights within the following statement.

“Whether you like it or not, research shows that Arabic students are not performing as well. For many, their reading of Arabic is a little slower than reading English,”

The article describes one of the greatest challenges to Arabic literacy curriculum as being the speed and retention of the characters of the Arabic language. Subtle differences between visual and linguistic skills can greatly impact the meaning of certain characters which slow reading retention by younger and under-practiced readers. A challenge that the a curriculum revision goal aims to answer by shifting technology education toward later grades and initial grade (age) groups emphasizing literacy skills.

After a meeting with held on Sunday April 1, by teachers and other educational officials at the Gulf Comparative Education Society symposium have coordinated with the Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research to set The UAE on track for a goal of ranking in the top 20 countries in PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) and the top 15 nations in TIMSS (Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study) by year 2021. A goal that can only be achieved if significant improvements are made to the literacy comprehension of younger Arabic students within the gulf states.

UAE schools urged to teach Arabic better as pupils lag behind in their own tongue – Ramola Talwar Badam April 8, 2018; https://www.thenational.ae/uae/uae-schools-urged-to-teach-arabic-better-as-pupils-lag-behind-in-their-own-tongue-1.719829