Trump's New Travel Ban Adds Six to the Growing List

Recently, President Trump announced six new additions to the travel ban,
which will go into effect on February 22. The new ban will prevent immigrants
from obtaining visas that are from Nigeria, Myanmar, Eritrea, and Kyrgystan,
and will prevent those from Sudan and Tanzania from participating in the
U.S diversity visa program which awards up to 50,000 green cards a year.

The reasons cited for these new immigration restrictions were to protect the
safety of American citizens from harm and to prevent illegal immigration,
but some suspect that this ban was put in place to single out Muslims and
prevent them from immigrating to the US. Most of the countries have large
Muslim populations and some fear that this new rule will prevent refugees from
Myanmar seeking safety from receiving the help that they need. Some are
comparing this to the travel ban that the President had signed earlier in his
term on many Muslim countries calling “for a total and complete shutdown
of Muslims entering the United States until our country’s representatives
can figure out what the hell is going on.”

 

Discussion Questions

1. Do you think these restrictions were put in place to intentionally target Muslims? Why or why not?

2. Is immigration to the US the only option for refugees in some of these countries?

3. How will this affect international relations with these countries, especially Nigeria, an ally of the US?

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/31/us/politics/trump-travel-ban.html

Chinese Authorities Attempt to Block Negative News About Coronavirus Outbreak

Thousands of people are being infected with the coronavirus everyday, and the media and internet is blowing up with news and panic. A siren to control the narrative about a crisis that has become a humongous challenge for leaders in Beijing.
"In the early days of the crisis, online vitriol was directed largely at the local authorities" says King-wa Fu, an associate professor at the 'Journalism and Media Studies Center' at the University of Hong Kong.
"But now," he says, "more of the anger is being aimed at higher-level leadership—and there seems to be more of it over all. So the Chinese government has shifted it's strategy to information control."

Mr. Xi called a restriction on "rumor-mongering" that weakens control efforts, at the Chinese Communist Party committee in charge of controlling China's legal system. Local officials attempt to shut down "online rumors" about the virus as well.
State-run news and media have been told to focus on stories about more positive virus relief efforts according to Chinese news organizations. Moreover, popular internet platforms have removed several articles/publications that state shortcomings in the Chinese government's negative responses or actions about the coronavirus outbreak.

Discussion Questions:

1. Why do you think Chinese authorities would want to censor negative statements about the virus even if they are true?

2. Why do you think the public would criticize the government for the virus outbreak?

3. Is it right to censor negative news about the virus outbreak?

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/05/world/asia/coronavirus-china.html

Britain Officially Leaves the European Union- This is Only the Beginning

Although Brexit- the removal of Great Britain from the European Union- has been a hot topic of conversation for a while now, it officially happened on Jan. 31 of 2020. The decision was made when lawmakers in London and Brussels officially approved Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s plans for Brexit. Croatian European Union Ambassador Irena Andrassy told Britain’s European Union Ambassador Sir Tim Barrow, “Thank you, goodbye, and good riddance.” Ambassador Andrassy insists it was in jest and Ambassador Barrow took it lightly. The two countries are old friends and there was a mutual understanding that the statement was a joke though each country understands that these words will go down in history as the parting words between the European Union and Great Britain upon its leave. 

Though Brexit has officially happened, Great Britain won’t be free from the EU completely until December of this year. Details about trade still have to be settled between the European Union and Great Britain in order for the leave to work. There are many conflicting views on Brexit as many people believe that this will cause great economic disaster for Great Britain. These people have been asking Chancellor Sajid Javid what his plans for the United Kingdom are now that Great Britain has left the European Union. He says the action of leaving the EU will result in economic prosperity, even going so far as to say the economy can grow up to 2.7% a year. The Bank of England and economists oppose this, saying it can only grow 1.5% a year at best. 

Source 1Source 2Image

President Trump's State of the Union address gains media attention for unconventional reasons

On Tuesday, February 4th, President Trump delivered his State of the Union address in Washington. For the duration of his nearly hour and a half long speech, President Trump spoke about his goal of sparking a "great American comeback". This statement comes after a previous comment of his in 2017 that stated an American carnage was taking place. In his speech, he was not making any direct prods at the lawmakers who made moves to take him out of office, however, he did not refrain from calling out Democrats.
Despite this and the many other important points discussed in the address, there were two moments that seemed to stand out most to the general public. One of which occurred before the speaking even began. Upon the president's entrance, Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, extended her hand in an effort to greet the president- but she was not given the same courtesy. Instead, it appeared as though President Trump blatantly ignored her offer and turned around with no further acknowledgment. This was later followed by what some may call a rebellious act by Pelosi. After President Trump concluded his Union address Pelosi gathered her copy of his speech and proceeded to hold it out in front of her and rip it in half. To a completely unbiased eye, this action would most likely be perceived as disrespectful. But, according to Pelosi herself, it was "the courteous thing to do". These unconventional events serve as grounds for American citizens to wonder what exactly comes next?

Discussion Questions:

1. Why exactly do you think President Trump would deliberately deny Pelosi's handshake knowing it would be seen on such a large scale platform?

2. Was Pelosi's action of ripping the speech justified, or did it take things too far?

3. How do you think these events will affect the atmosphere of future American political events in which Pelosi and Trump must work together?

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-51381625

Kansas City Chiefs New Super Bowl Champs & Patrick's Awards

On Sunday, February 2nd, the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49'ers faced off in the NFL Super Bowl. The Niners let down the Bay Area and were defeated by the Chiefs with them at home, in Miami. Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs quarterback successfully helped his team win their first Super Bowl in over half a century. It was a very stressful and close game, until the Chiefs led by Mahomes, overcame a 10 point deficit against the Niners, making the score 31-20 which resulted in their winning of the game. The Chiefs then were made the first team in NFL history to have won three games after losing by 10 or more points in a single postseason. Following his terrific contribution to the Chiefs victory, Patrick Mahomes was named the Super Bowl MVP. This also means that he is now one of the three quarterbacks that have won the Super Bowl before their 25th birthday. Mahomes is also the youngest QB to receive Super Bowl MVP, and is the second youngest QB to win the Super Bowl.

1. Would the Niners have a chance at winning if Mahomes was not playing?
2. Did winning the Super Bowl at such a young age put Mahomes in a situation where he is expected to be good?
3. What other sports have their been young stars in?

https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/02/us/chiefs-vs-49ers-super-bowl-liv/index.html

First Lady of Lesotho Charged for Murdering Prime Minister's Ex-Wife

The wife of the Prime Minister of Lesotho, Maesaiah Thabane, is accused of killing his past wife. His ex-wife, Lipolelo Thabane, was shot dead outside her home in the capital Maseru two days before his initiation in 2017. The assault was initially accused on unknown equipped men, yet ongoing court papers recorded by the nation's police official, Holomo Molibeli, have brought up further questions. A warrant of arrest was given to 42-year-old Maesaiah Thabane on January 10th after she vanished. Holomo Molibeli told the BBC that she was being held in custody and would be officially charged in court on Wednesday (Feb 5). This scandal has given Lesotho a bad reputation for international relations not only in Africa, but the entire world.

1 . What is your opinion on this situation? Is Maesaiah Thabane guilty or not guilty?

2 . What do you think Maesaiah Thabane’s motive was to kill her husband’s ex-wife?

3 . What are times in history we have seen people ignore all morals for greed?

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-51378452

Spread of the Corona virus

                                      

                          

                                             Coronavirus affecting Apple supply

            Apple CEO Tim Cook tended to the coronavirus during a call Tuesday with experts, saying the organization restricted representative travel to “business basic" regions in China and is checking the circumstances intently. Tim Cook said "Apple includes a few providers" within the Wuhan territory, the sickness put concentration that's under control, however, the organization has elected alternatives that are based on different cases of the virus. In any case, Apple anticipates that some disturbance should its stock in light of the infection, the impacts of which are felt the state over. Industrial facilities that make Apple items and parts were set to revive toward the month's end, following the Lunar year festivities, yet that date has been deferred until Feb. 10, Cook said on the decision. Apple is likewise observing a disruption in retail deals in China owing to the infection, Cook said. While Wuhan just contributes a touch a part of offers to Apple's general Chinese business, and Apple has shut only 1 store, various stores outside Wuhan that sell Apple items have likewise shut. a substantial lot of the stores that haven't shut have diminished their working hours. Apple has started profound cleaning its stores and leading temperature checks of workers, he stated, which is one method for deciding if somebody may have gotten the infection. In the midst of the vulnerability, the organization gave financial specialists a more extensive territory for income direction next quarter, fully expecting a possible interruption in its China deals.

Questions:

•  what else do you think the virus could have an impact on?
• what additional things do you propose apple should do to solve this problem?
• do you think they should relocate stores near the places with the highest percentage of virus exposure?