US to Increase aid to clear unexploded bombs in Laos

Secretary Of State John F. Kerry said Monday that the United States is considering increasing financial aid to help Laos clear the countryside of unexploded ordnance left over from the Vietnam War more than four decades ago.
Speaking with reporters at the end of a one-day stop in the impoverished, Communist-
run country, Kerry said no final figure has been determined, but discussions are
underway to increase it.


The United States has been helping find and clear unexploded ordnance for more than
half a decade, starting with $5 million a year and gradually rising to $15 million last year
and $19.5 this year. The efforts have resulted in a significant decline in the number of
Laotians killed and seriously wounded, which was averaging 300 a year. 

"We're now down to about 50 a year," Kerry said, adding, "And 50 a year is still too
many." 

Kerry said he expected a final aid package to be completed by the time President Obama
comes to Laos this summer to attend a meeting Of the Association Of South East Asian
Nations (ASEAN). Kerry said the United States will continue or establish a number of
programs, including one focusing on child nutrition and another to strengthen dams
along on the Mekong River, a vital tributary that runs through six countries. 

Kerry arrived Sunday night in Laos, a country he first visited in the 1990s as a senator
when he helicoptered to jungle sites trying to locate the remains of POWs or MIAs from
the Vietnam War, which he famously served in on a swift boat patrolling the Mekong
River. 

His visit to this tiny nation that rarely makes international news is a rare one for
American diplomats. He is only the third secretary of state to ever visit Laos, after John
Foster Dulles in 1955 and Hillary Clinton in 2012. 

Relations have been standoffish for decades between Washington and the Commumst
rulers of the Lao People's Republic, who only last week chose a new leader for the single-
party government. But in recent years, the two countries have worked to establish
warmer ties. Kerry laid a bouquet Of closed lotus blossoms at a Third Century B.C.
Buddhist monument where the Communist red flag with a hammer and sickle flew from
shrine roofs alongside the Laotian national flag 

Kerry came to Vientiane to lay the groundwork for a summit President Obama will host
in February for the 10 countries in ASEAN, a group that Laos chairs this year. Obama's
attendance at an ASEAN meeting in Vientiane will mark the first time U.S. president ever
has visited the landlocked country. 

All the high-level visiting to Laos is part of the administration's efforts to pay more
attention to Asia, an area that is expected to be the engine for future economic growth.
Kerry goes on Tuesday to Cambodia, boasting one of Asia's fastest growing economies.


Response:

This article is primarily addressing the topic of American diplomats, specifically, John F. Kerry, going to Laos, a communist country, to help clear unexploded bombs from the country side. There is also an underlying topic, that American diplomats are giving this financial aid and help to Asian countries, because they have the most economical resources. As normal, the government is not helping this country/countries out of the kindness of their hearts, but rather are looking for a way to improve the USAs standing. The USA desires to have the upper hand, and from this article, they are willing to support communist countries to do so. (This was not the case a few years ago) Personally, I am not against the government supporting these countries and partnering with them, but it seems that the government is going against their morals in doing so, which I do disagree with. The author seems to feel similarly, as it speaks on the way in which the government is partnering with Laos, and includes that the reason behind their interest in Asia, is because it is "the engine for future economic growth." 

Morello, Carol. "U.S. to Increase Aid to Clear Unexploded Bombs in Laos." Washington Post. The Washington Post, 25 Jan. 2016. Web. 25 Jan. 2016. <https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/us-to-increase-aid-to-clear-unexploded-bombs-in-laos/2016/01/25/d5462bd2-bfcb-11e5-98c8-7fab78677d51_story.html>.

Obama. GOP Congress near end of long, ugly relationship

Neither side is even pretending that much Of anything can get done in 2016.

By Burgess Everettlll and Jake ShermanPl
01/11/16 05:17 AM EST

It's happened over and over again since 2011. A deadline quickly approaches.
Congressional Republicans and President Barack Obama are locked in a stare-down for
weeks. Then, just before calamity hits, a deal is struck — usually.

But as Obama comes to Capitol Hill for his final State of the Union address on Tuesday,
the political dynamics have shifted dramatically. Both sides have lost their most powerful
tool to get stuff done — leverage.

The government is funded until a month before the election. The debt ceiling won't be
hit until 2017. And that means the spurt of bipartisan deal making that Congress and
White House managed in 2()15 will probably come to a screeching halt until Obama's
successor takes office.

"There isn't the sense Of urgency on a lot Of these issues that there was last year," said
John Thune of South Dakota, the No. 3 Senate Republican. "Needing the president as a
partner to do things? A lot Of the stuff we needed to get done, got done last year."

Indeed, there are precious few pressure points for the GOP majorities in the House and
Senate to extract much at all out Of the White House — and vice versa. There will be likely
be no hostage-taking in the face of a government shutdown and, in turn, few viable
places for Republicans to try to force fights over foreign policy, the environment or the
president's unilateral actions on guns.

Republicans Say whatever the president is doing now is temporary because he will be out
the door in January 2017. It's a full reversal from a year ago, when former House Speaker
John Boehner (R-Ohi0) had set up a brutal confrontation between Obama and the House
GOP majority over his immigration executive actions and funding the Department of
Homeland Security.

That's just fine for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), whose mantra of
protecting his majority is built on stability and governance. But it doesn't sit well with
hard-liners itching for more confrontation with the White House as Obama makes his
way toward the exit.

The House and Senate GOP majorities have lost their "leverage in the power of the purse
on everything through September," said Rep. Dave Brat (R-Va.), a vocal member Of the
conservative House Freedom Caucus. "And so that is a leadership strategic-planning
failure."

The legislative landscape, however, fits House Speaker Paul Ryan's plans to lay out a
detailed Republican agenda without the threat Of disaster. "It cuts both ways," said Rep. Mick Mulvaney, a South Carolina Republican who is a leading voice in the HFC. "There's not something staring us in the face that could blow up in our face, but, at the same time, there's not a must-pass piece of legislation."

He said Republicans could potentially exert leverage through the budget process and said
welfare reform is also possible. A deal on criminal justice reform is another major effort
that could come together this year.

But after years of frustration since the GOP's 2011 House takeover and — with a few
exceptions — paralysis in his dealings with Congress, the president has decided to go it
alone to advance his agenda. Of course, that means nips and tucks instead of full-fledged
reforms. Obama is planning to ditch the traditional policy laundry list in favor Of a
higher-altitude speech, the White House has signaled in the lead-up to the State of the
Union.

Obama has relied on unilateral actions, and the next time he might need Congress is
during a lame-duck session next winter. Aside from the executive action on guns, he's
bypassing confirmation battles by signaling to Republican leaders that he's perfectly fine
avoiding a vote on Arne Duncan's successor as education secretary.

Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate's Health, Education, Labor and
Pensions Committee, recounted buttonholing the president over acting Secretary John
King's status at an education-reform bill signing in December.

"'I strongly recommend that you appoint an education secretary and nominate one. And
if you do we'll have an immediate hearing in January, and I will work to get the secretary
confirmed by the end Of the month,'" Alexander said he told the president then. "I still
hope that's what he does."

The president's go-it-alone approach means Obama is sure to encounter stiff resistance
to almost anything that does require attention from Capitol Hill. Republicans have called
his executive initiatives an abuse Of power and an end run around Congress, and they're
searching for ways to water down his latest move on guns.

One option is to refuse to allocate money to implement it during the appropriations
process, since the plan relies on funding to conduct background checks and provide
mental health services.

The House GOP chairman overseeing the Department of Justice's budget said he will
extract pain out of the White House as it moves to implement the president's guns
proposal.

"You're missing the most powerful tool appropriators have: month-to-month, week-to-
week oversight over spending of these agencies," Rep. John Culberson (R-Texas),
chairman of the Appropriations subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and
Related Agencies, said in an interview. "I don't need an amendment, I don't need
another bill, I don't need the permission of leadership.. I'm going to box them in, I'm going to build an electric fence around the Department Of Justice."

Republicans could also take a shot in court and hope they draw a conservative judge.
But Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-lll.), a close Obama ally, said the president has
"much more latitude" to act unilaterally than the GOP would like to admit. Obama
intentionally rolled out the plan before the State of the Union to make sure that
Americans realize the focus the White House is putting on the issue.

"The president told us he wanted to move this before the State of the Union to highlight
it," Durbin said. ' 'The timing Of it was planned so it could have separate impact."

The strategy worked, as Republicans are now searching for a rebuttal to the idea that
they are powerless to slow down Obama's actions. But in contrast to a year ago, when
Boehner vowed to fight Obama's immigration actions "tooth and nail,"
leaders now say voters just need to wait a year to undo the president's work. That's assuming, Of course, a
Republican wins the presidency.

"His power and authority will be increasingly marginalized, because anything he does on
the executive or regulatory side will last less than a year," Thune said.

Response:

This article is informing the public of the news of Obama's actions with the GOP and the new gun proposal. The writers are obviously bias towards the GOP and against Obama. This is shown through  the repetition that in less than a year the new president or voters will "fix" or change what Obama is doing now. They are obviously against Obama's recent and even past actions. The writers say that he is trying to handle all the issues and proposals by himself and they see this as abusing the power he possesses. I, personally, do not consistently follow politics, but it seems that these demeaning articles towards the president are to be expected by this time. Everyone is ready for something new, but they are still "stuck" with the old. At this time, everyone is against Obama and ready for him to be finished, since they would say that he has been in power long enough. Although the authors write on the topic of Obama's response to the GOP, they seem to have an underlying meaning to bash the president and show their support for the Republican party and desire of someone new to be in power.

Everett, Burgess, and Jake Sherman. "Obama, GOP Congress near End of Long, Ugly Relationship." POLITICO. N.p., 11 Jan. 2016. Web. 11 Jan. 2016. <http://www.politico.com/story/2016/01/obama-gop-congress-ugly-relationship-217550>.

Major earthquake hits northeast India

This picture taken from Instagram shows damage from a strong 6.7 magnitude earthquake which
struck northeast India near the country's borders with Myanmar and Bangladesh in the city of
Imphal, capital of Manipur state early on January 4, 2016. The early morning tremor was strongly felt
across northeast India and in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka, where television reports said at least 24
people were taken to hospital after being injured in the scramble that ensued. 

An earthquake measuring 6.7 magnitude hit northeast India near its border with Myanmar and
Bangladesh early Monday, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) confirmed. At least eight people were
killed and 100 injured by falling debris in Imphal and elsewhere in Manipur state, police said.
The quake struck at 4:35 a.m. local time (6:05 p.m. ET on Sunday), about 20 mi es northwest of
Imphal, the capital of Manipur.

An intensity shake map released by the US Geological Survey (USGS) on 03 January
2016 shows the location where a preliminary 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck 33km WNW Of
Imphal, India, 04 January 2016 (local time). EPA/USGS / HANDOUT (Photo: EPA)
Media reports said five people were killed by the earthquake in neighboring Bangladesh, but there
was no immediate confirmation from authorities. 

Strong tremors were felt across the region, the BBC reported. Witness accounts reported a quake
that was unlike anything they had felt before, NBC News reported with residents awakened by
shouting relatives and an intense shaking that lasted from 35 seconds to two minutes. 

Bob Swaggerty, who felt the quake in Dimapur, about 125 miles north of Imphal, told USA TODA Y
that it lasted about 45 seconds. "We felt the Nepal earthquake last year, this was the strongest I have
ever felt,- he said. 

Swaggerty and his family were awakened after feeling and hearing the quake. -I ran out to our
balcony where it was shaking so violently I was just waiting for it to come down," he said. "Many
screams in the distance. 

He added, - My son said he doesn't want to live in this house anymore." 

@timesofindialSl Strong tremors felt in Kolkata too, though everyone is sleeping and hardly I see
anyone on the road.
— Naveen Kumar Singh (@Na7vs) lanuary 3, 2016/61 

Nearly 200 miles south of the quake's epicenter, in Siaha, India, one account described a building
that sounded as if it was crumbling, NBC reported. 

In Imphal, there were initial reports Of damage to a popular market, The Associated Press reported.
The tremor left large cracks in several walls and a portion of the building collapsed, police said.

India's Meteorological Department said the epicenter of the quake was in Tamenglong region of
Manipur state. It struck at a depth of 17 kilometers (about 10 miles) in the India-Myanmar border region. USGS said the depth was 55 kilometers (about 34 miles).
People panicked and rushed out of their homes in Guwahati, the capital of neighboring Assam state,
as they felt massive shaking at least twice within 60 seconds, AP reported.
Patients are told to stay outside as Imphal Hospital suffered huge cracks in the building.


Imphal quake jolts Assam reports @afrida78d101 Cracks Surface at Guwahati
Medical College Hospital @NewsMl llpic.twitter.com/XjybxTjqbK1121
— Sourav Sanyal (@SSanyal) January 4, 2016/131 

"The ground swayed for almost a minute, jolting people awake in their homes," said one Imphal
resident, Apem Arthur. The area is dotted with small houses. There are few tall buildings in the
region, she said. 

@timesofindia1141 tremors felt in Eastern and Central Nepal too.
— (@Rascalgk) January 3, 2014151 

The tremors were also felt in Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal state. 

USGS initially reported a 6.8 magnitude before revising the assessment to 6.7 about an hour later. 

USGS map shows major 6.7 earthquake west of#lmpha11161 India in #ManipuÅ171 State.


CARE is monitoring this emergency.
— CARE (care.org) (@CARE) January 4, 20161191 

Contributing: The Associated press


Response:

This article uses many sources of social media to gain information of this recent earth quake in India and others in South East Asia. This is because it is coming from a US news source which does not have any direct affiliation with the countries being affected. The writer has a few statements from the authorities which could be because there are very few statements, or that they have more bias towards the people directly in the quake who were tweeting/posting on social media. Every source they use seems to be directly from the media. The facts are most likely not interesting enough for this report, so it is being dramatized by the media posts. This article does provide information on the event, but it is not substantial facts from authorities.

Toppo, Greg. "Major Earthquake Hits Northeast India." USA Today. USA Today, 4 Jan. 2016. Web. 4 Jan. 2016. <http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2016/01/03/india-earthquake-myanmar-border/78241542/>.