Trump visits Venezuelan exiles at FIU

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By SHANIKA ISAACS

On Monday, President Donald Trump visited Florida International University to talk to one of the largest Venezuelan communities in the state at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center about the humanitarian crisis in Venezuela. Many supporters rallied together as they chanted “USA! USA!” and waved “Make America Great Again” flags.

In his speech, the president expressed his support and recognition for Venezuela’s opposition leader Juan Guaidó as the standing president of the country. He encouraged the Venezuelan military that were loyal to President Nicolas Maduro to back down. In doing a peaceful switch of loyalty to Guaidó’s leadership, Trump ordained that there would be no repercussions whatsoever.

The Trump administration, along with 50 other nations, have declared Guaidó as the rightful leader of Venezuela. However, many supporters of the Maduro’s regime out-rightly disagreed with the American’s involvement as Maduro described Trump’s speech to be ‘Nazi-styled’.  

According to CBS Miami, “A tired rhetoric questioning our right as a free country to adopt the ideas of socialism which is humane and Christian. It was a Nazi-style speech,” said Maduro as he addressed his people.

Maduro still opposed to accept humanitarian assistance from America as the military assisted him in closing off all boarder access to the country. No one in and no one out.

Maduro also used his broadcasting platform to share to his fellow Venezuelans that they would instead be receiving humanitarian assistance from their Russian supporters. According to the Miami Herald, the Russians look to invest $5 billion on boosting Venezuela’s oil production and an additional $1 million in mining principally for gold.

With Russian bomber jets touching down in Venezuela and President Trump clamping down for a change of government, it was an irony of how the U.S. got in this position. What are some of your thoughts on how this would follow through? Do you think Russia purposely helped Venezuela just because America stood for Guaidó?

Trump discusses Venezuela at FIU

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By LESLIE ANNE DOMINIQUE

On President’s Day, President Donald Trump flew to Miami to give a speech at Florida International University, where he was joined by hundreds to thousands of Venezuelans chanting, “libertad, libertad, libertad” (freedom, freedom, freedom).

The purpose of Trump’s speech was to address the crisis in Venezuela and announce his support for Juan Guaidó, an opposition politician to the Venezuelan regime and the man who many believe is the rightful president. The South American nation is currently going through a political crisis involving hyperinflation, leaving millions of citizens in poverty. President, Nicolás Maduro, who many citizens blame for the nation’s decline, has refused much of the humanitarian aid that is being sent to feed the starving in Venezuela.

Trump spoke to the pleas of much of his audience stating, “a new day is coming in Latin America.”  The president seeks a “peaceful transition of power” in which Guaidó is president. The large majority of his speech was focused on discrediting Maduro’s socialist agenda.

He warned Maduro supporters that they would lose their livelihoods. Speaking of the blockage of aid from the United States, the president said of Maduro, “He would rather see his people starve than give them aid.” Although Trump’s speech was rather mellow for him, there were underlying hints at a military invasion by the U.S., if the presidency was not granted to Guaidó.

Many question Trump’s intentions and stance on the issues revolving around Venezuela. Trump spoke greatly of Venezuelans who have protested and raised arms against the corrupt government however; this is the same man who is supporting the deportation of Venezuelans who seek to flee tyranny from the Maduro regime.

Maduro has since responded to President Trump’s speech, stating that it was “A tired rhetoric questioning our right as a free country to adopt the ideas of socialism which is humane and Christian. It was a Nazi-style speech.” It seems that the two leaders share a flair for the dramatics.

In a video surrounded by military officials, Maduro claimed “Donald Trump wants to ban ideologies… [He] wants to impose his way of thinking of the white supremacists in the White House. No! Venezuela will continue with its division of ideologies. We will continue to be multiracial.”

Maduro believes that Trump is encouraging an invasion of Venezuela and has taken action to avoid such. Since Monday, Nicolas Maduro has forbid all aid from the United States to enter the country. This has put the Venezuelan crisis at a climax.

What now?

Fighting back is not in the favor of Venezuelans, as the military regime is rather strict and forceful. It seems that it would take outside interaction from military giants, such as the United States, to get Venezuelans the freedom and supplies that they need. In opposition of the regime, Guaidó has called for a huge nationwide march on Feb. 23 to get charitable relief into the country. Venezuelans are in wide support of Guaidó and find that he will be the key to gaining them their freedom.

How are we reporting this story?

This story, along with many stories regarding the Venezuelan crisis, has been reported by various news sources. Every day different networks such as CNN, NBC and FOX are reporting stories on Venezuela on paper, on air, and on television. There hardly is a day that passes when Venezuela is not being reported by journalists. Many news organizations are reporting it by focusing on the food crisis and how citizens are fighting to gain supplies; others are focusing on statements from Maduro himself. Many journalists are also suspecting an invasion from the U.S., and reporting on this expectation.

Designer Karl Lagerfeld dies

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By ALEXA ECKEMBRECHER

Karl Lagerfeld, the iconic fashion designer for Chanel, has passed away at the age of 85 on Tuesday in Paris.

“It is with deep sadness that the House of Chanel announces the passing of Karl Lagerfeld, the creative director for the Chanel Fashion House since 1983,” Chanel said in a statement.

Lagerfeld’s tenure at the fashion house re-imagined Gabrielle Chanel’s outdated codes on the unmistakable Chanel suit, classic little black dress, handbags and more. He rejuvenated the brand with narrower lines and eccentric details. When Chanel’s owners, Alain and Gérard Wertheimer, hired him decades ago, Lagerfeld claimed the brand had become an “old hat.”

The German-born designer spent the majority of his entire career at luxury labels, granting him international influence. He previously worked at Chloe and Fendi and yet, remained a relatively elusive figure with his trademark white ponytail, dark glasses and high-collar.

In recent seasons, Lagerfeld appeared to be weaker; But in the latest couture show in Paris, he did not walk out at all to bow. A spokesperson claimed that he was simply “tired”.

Around the world celebrities, models, fashion moguls and even politicians all celebrated Lagerfeld’s legacy and shared their unforgettable moments with the couturier. They thanked him for his inspirational nature and for creating a more fashionable world. Among those who honored his success were: Anna Wintour, Donatella Versace, Rihanna and Claudia Schiffer.

Upon learning of his death, I grew saddened because if there was a brand that I liked to follow, it was always Chanel. Lagerfeld was a visionary and never failed to create anything less of chic. Likewise, I consider the reporting of his life to be thorough in most on the news articles I came across.


Opinion-based news now dominates

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By GIANNA SANCHEZ

A lot has changed since Donald Trump has become president, especially in the world of news. Many of the main news outlets that American viewers used to trust have now turned into public enemy No. 1.

To be completely honest, at this point, I cannot even remember how it used to be. Maybe news was polarizing then and no one noticed, but it is especially polarizing now. While news used to be publicized as only stating facts and communicating information, many news stations have turned into a contest.

Fox News and MSNBC are some of the more common networks referred to by the president. Fox News is usually mentioned in President Trump’s favor, while MSNBC is more looked at as the anti-Trump cable network. This is up for interpretation, however, and it is up for the public to decide which to watch and support.

After watching a video titled, “Cooper: Trump Declared emergency, headed to Mar-a-Lago,” I started thinking about the idea of opinion based news. The video showed Anderson Cooper questioning Donald Trump’s sincerity regarding the national emergency. Cooper even mentions that Trump headed over to West Palm Beach for a few days to relax rather than work at the White House.

The video mostly presented facts. It said when Trump arrived, what he had been doing and the results of Trump’s declaration of emergency. Cooper does not add his opinion too much in the video and he even says some comments in Trump’s defense. While the reporting was done well, I think Cooper did mildly insert his opinion through the tone and delivery of facts in the story.

People trust reporters and anchors to deliver the news. I would expect that most people would also want the news to be delivered in an unbiased way. The news should provide information, while viewers should shape their own opinion about what they saw. Without the trust and hope for unbiased reporting, we stray farther and farther away from what people want and become too reliant on opinion rather than facts.

‘Empire’ actor charged for fa​lse report

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By KARLI FEINSTEIN

Actor Jussie Smollett, one of the stars from the Fox Television show “Empire,” is currently facing a felony charge of disorderly conduct due to a fake police report claiming two men attacked him in Chicago last month.

The Chicago Police believe Smollett paid two men $3,500 to conduct an assault on him. Chicago Police Department Superintendent Eddie Johnson said the “Empire” actor staged the attack on himself because he was unhappy with his salary.

According to Johnson, Smollett first “attempted to gain attention by sending a false letter that relied on racial, homophobic and political language.” This was a reference to a letter Smollett sent to to the “Empire” set before the attack.

Smollet first reported the “attack” on Jan. 29. He claimed two men were yelling out homophobic and racial slurs like “‘Empire’ fa***t” and “‘Empire’ n***er.” The men then apparently proceeded to choke him with a rope and pour an unknown substance on top of him.

The two men who allegedly attacked Smollett are brothers, identified as Olabinjo Osundairo and Abimbola Osundairo. They were arrested on Wednesday, but released without charges on Friday morning after police recognized new evidence of the case.

“When we discovered the actual motive, quite frankly, it pissed everybody off because we have to invest valuable resources,” Johnson said.

This case caused such chaos for no reason at all. The Chicago police were very upset that this gained so much attention when there are much more drastic scenarios happening right now in Chicago as we speak. 

At a press conference, Johnson said, “Before I get started, I look out into the crowd, I just wish that the families of gun violence in this city got this much attention because that’s who really deserves the amount of attention that we are giving to this particular in distinct.”

Hearing this story really bums me out, especially since I’m a big fan of the show “Empire.” Smollett took total advantage of his fame in this situation. He thought by faking an attack he could gain more money from the show and more respect from his fans. This behavior is so disgusting and I’m glad he will reap the consequences from it.

Actor Jussie Smollett no longer a victim

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By NAOMI FEINSTEIN

After “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett reported last month that he was victim of a racist and homophobic attack, Chicago Police now believe he orchestrated the attack upon himself, charging him with a felony of disorderly conduct for filing a false police report. He is being held on $100,000 bail and must surrender his passport.

Initially, Smollett told the police that he was beaten by two masked men as they yelled racist and homophobic slurs at him, placed a rope around his neck, and poured an unknown substance on him. Additionally, the studio where “Empire” is filmed received a letter filled with homophobic and racist language just a week before the attack.

Police were skeptical of Smollett’s story from the beginning, but still treated him as a victim until they completed the investigation. In a press conference, Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson said Smollett paid two brothers $3,500 to stage the attack as well as provided money for the materials. Johnson believes this was a stunt for Smollett to increase his publicity in hopes of receiving a salary promotion. Smollett, however, denies the allegations.

“Actor Jussie Smollett took advantage of the pain and anger of racism to promote his career,” Johnson said. “Why would anyone especially an African American man use the symbolism of a noose to make false accusations?”

In the immediate aftermath of the attack, the news and entertainment media glorified Smollett as a symbol for the gay and African-American communities. However, many, including Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson, were dissatisfied with how quick media organizations were to cover the attack.

“I just wish that the families of gun violence in this city got this much attention,” Johnson said.

Although hate crimes are widespread and happen daily, they rarely make the news. But in this case, it did because it involved a public figure. Thus, it was alarming that the media is so quick to publish a story about a celebrity, but when a common citizen deals with such an ordeal, it is rarely mentioned. Even staffers working for Good Morning America had doubts about Smollett’s story after he had an interview with GMA host Robin Roberts.

Some feel this will negatively impact future victims of hate crimes as they may be afraid to speak up in fear of being accused of making it all up. Smollett could have been a great leader, but his ego got in the way.

This ordeal will definitely further divide our country as the media will be under a lot of scrutiny for believing Smollett’s story and not waiting for the investigation to be concluded. In the end, Smollett damaged his reputation and the media’s credibility with individuals accusing media organizations for distorting reality.

Oliver entertains, informs his audience

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By RYAN GRILLE

British comedian John Oliver has become a leading figure in late night television in recent years. His HBO series “Last Week Tonight” has garnered critical acclaim and receives millions of views on YouTube. His most recent video, which was part of the first episode of the sixth season, touched on the Brexit controversy and the serious consequences it could have on the United Kingdom. This video is a perfect illustration of how Oliver entertains and informs his audience.

First of all, John Oliver’s videos are highly researched. The sources used to explain the situation at hand are often presented as a graphic on screen or even brought out as physical items. For example, during the video, he produced a physical copy of Theresa May’s Brexit transition plan. In addition, Oliver uses video footage from other media in order to more fully illustrate his points. For example, he will use footage of a local news station reporting on Brexit to legitimize his points.

Primarily, however, his show is concerned with comedy. Oliver not only uses each topic in order to craft a joke, but he often uses humor in order to get across important information to his audience. In this video, for example, he uses a Dutch boy band in order to further illustrate the EU’s response to Brexit. This approach keeps his audience entertained while supplying them with information.

While John Oliver’s content is informative and entertaining, it is certainly not flawless. One major criticism that can be lobbied against him is that his content is extremely left leaning in its discussion of politics. Also, while his videos are highly researched, he has been known to make a few errors from time to time. This can mainly be attributed to the format of his show being only 30 minutes in length and thus being forced to simplify a lot of information. Despite this, John Oliver’s content has not only impacted real legislation, but has also managed to build up a large fan following.

Uranium found in park’s museum

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By LAUREN MAINGOT

Buckets of uranium ore stored at the Grand Canyon National Park museum may have exposed park visitors and workers to radiation beyond the federal limit for nearly two decades, according to Elston Stephenson, the park’s Safety, Health and Wellness manager.

Stephenson told CNN that his requests for the National Park Service and Department of the Interior to warn tourists and employees of their possible exposure went ignored for months last summer. With a lack of response from officials, he sent an email to all park staff on Feb. 4 informing them of the situation.

“If you were in the Museum Collections Building (bldg 2C) between the year 2000 and June 18, 2018, you were ‘exposed’ to uranium by OSHA’s definition,” said the email. He also clarified that the exposure doesn’t mean imminent health issues. “It merely means essentially that there was uranium on the site and you were in its presence … and by law we are supposed to tell you.”

Stephenson contacted a park service radiation specialist when he found out that three buckets of ore had been stored next to a taxidermy exhibit for 18 years. According to the specialist’s report, testing results were positive for elevated radioactivity near the buckets, but elsewhere remained at background levels.

The park service decided to dispose of the ore in a nearby uranium mine, according to the report. The Department of the Interior says that the National Park Service is investigating the situation and working with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Arizona Department of Health Services.

“Uranium naturally occurs in the rocks of Grand Canyon National Park. A recent survey of the Grand Canyon National Park’s museum collection facility found radiation levels at ‘background’ levels,” the department said in a statement provided to CNN. “There is no current risk to the public or Park employees.”

From a reporting standpoint, I think that this story doesn’t have deep enough coverage for its scale. For the museum of a national park that receives approximately five million visitors yearly, further investigation should be conducted regarding the origin of the uranium buckets and the reason why it took nearly two decades to remove them. The fact that schoolchildren would sit near the buckets regularly on tours and park employees and high school interns would work near them daily increases the urgency for more knowledge on the health effects of exposure.

An analysis of the manner in which the situation was handled from a management standpoint should also be covered, considering the poor communication and lack of acknowledgement by the National Park Service and Department of the Interior when initial reports emerged.

Who is not running for president?

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By LIAM FABRE

Earlier this week, Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont announced his candidacy for president of the United States. Sanders is now one of the seemingly thousands of people who are seeking the Democratic party nomination.

So how will Sen. Sanders differentiate himself from the rest of the pack? The answer lies in the new, somewhat divided, make-up of the Democratic Party.

The candidates standing on the Democratic Party debate stage will be divided into three categories. The socialist camp, the inter-sectional camp and the establishment camp.

The socialist camp is where our beloved, “Bernie” finds himself, along with Sen. Elizabeth Warren. These candidates are self-proclaimed socialists, focused on redistribution of wealth through various governmental programs such as free tuition, free health care, etc.

The inter-sectional camp focuses on inter-sectional ideals which can be boiled down to a “pro diversity” mentality. Inter-sectionality encourages diversity in government by appointing minorities to positions of power. Candidates who flaunt the fact that they are female, persons of color, or members of non-Judaeo-Christian religions as a means to promote themselves, fall into this category. Candidates such as Kamala Harris, Cory Booker, and Kirsten Gillibrand find themselves in the inter-sectional camp.

The last is the establishment camp. This is made up of candidates who have had long careers in government and are strongly supported by their party. Joe Biden is one of the only politicians in this camp.

It is clear that the winner of the nomination will be the candidate that can check the most boxes, meaning the one which has roots in the most groups. In my opinion, Sen. Sanders does not have a legitimate chance at the nomination, since he is only able to check one.

Vietnam Airlines soon to fly to U.S.

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By HUY TRAN

Vietnam is all set to receive permission to fly directly to the U.S., and Vietnam Airlines plans to launch four flights a week.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has declared that Vietnam now complies with international safety standards, giving its airlines the opportunity to fly to the U.S. and codeshare with American carriers.

The FAA has awarded the country with the Category 1 (CAT 1) rating, which means air carriers from the country may initiate or continue services to the US and take part in reciprocal codeshare arrangements with US carriers.

Vietnam Airlines CEO Duong Tri Thanh told local news media that the carrier would begin with four flights a week to Los Angeles and later daily flights to the West Coast, which is home to a large Vietnamese community.

There are currently no direct flights between the two countries, in spite of a large market catering to tourism and trading. All passengers must transit in another country or territory such as Qatar, Korea or Japan, with a total travel time of 18 to 21 hours.

Vietnam’s aviation industry has seen increasing demand in recent years. According to the CAAV, Vietnam welcomed more than 100 million passengers passing through airports in the country in 2018.

The number of flights in the country grew by 16 percent on average between 2010 and 2018, according to official data.

But there are also concerns about possible losses. Thanh said it would take at least five years for the direct service to the U.S. to break even, and there could be an annual loss of $30 million in the first few years.

It would take at least five years for the national flag carrier to break even, he added.

Dinh Viet Thang, head of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV), said that local airlines would need to purchase larger airplanes as most of the existing fleet cannot manage such long flights.

Ohio State student kidnapped, killed

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By ALEXA ECKEMBRECHER

On Monday, Feb. 11, 20-year-old Ohio State University student Skylar Williams was kidnapped by her 24-year-old ex-boyfriend Ty’Rell Pounds from the campus parking lot. Later that day, Pounds fatally shot Williams after being stopped by Kentucky State troopers.

The couple began dating in high school and were in a tumultuous relationship for nearly three years.

In the Richland County Court, Pounds alleged that Williams was abusive towards him throughout the relationship, but never filed charges because she claimed to create false allegations if he took her to court.  

Last October, however, Pounds filed a restraining order against Williams after he alleged that she hit him at North Central State College. Then, this January, Williams reported an incident that occurred outside of a Mansfield, Ohio, gas station with Pounds in addition to filing a rape charge against him originating from an incident she claimed occurred in September 2018. Pounds insisted that Williams fabricated that claim because he did not pay to get her mother’s car fixed.

Records show that the couple also shared a 1-year-old child.

The Richland County court records showed that visitation of the child by Pounds required supervision by a third party in order to make contact between him and Williams unnecessary. According to the affidavit, Pounds also said he believed it would be in the best interest of the child to be under his custody.

In the news conference Wednesday afternoon held by Kentucky State Police, the patrol commissioner said KSP became involved at around 3:24 p.m. Monday after a 911 call was made by a witness. In the call, the witness claimed to have seen “a distressed female at a gas station in Gallatin County mouth ‘help me’ while being forced by a male into a dark-colored Dodge Caravan.” Soon after, the police located the van and tried to stop it, but Pounds continued to drive, prompting the police chase.

Eventually, the trooper pursuing the car noticed Pounds wearing a bulletproof vest and holding a gun. Joey Brown, the state trooper, then used a pit maneuver, flipping the car on its side. Brown then got out of his patrol unit and instantly heard gunshots from inside the van, causing him to shoot at Pounds.

Pounds was pronounced dead at the scene, but Brown attempted to give Williams medical attention until ambulances came. She died soon after arriving at the hospital.

In my opinion, the reporting on this case seemed objective, factual and complete. They explained plenty on the history of Williams and Pounds’ toxic relationship, allowing readers to conjure up their opinions on the situation. Unfortunately, two lives were lost and a child was left orphaned. I also appreciate that many of the articles provided The National Domestic Violence Hotline number at the end in order to prevent further tragedies.

National border emergency declared

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By MCKENZIE STOUTE

After lots of speculation, President Trump declared a national emergency over border security on Friday.

This decision came after Congress wouldn’t give the president the $5.7 billion he asked for to build the wall, that he previously stated that Mexico was going to pay. This resulted in a 35-day government shutdown, the longest U.S government shutdown in history. In order to avoid another shutdown President Trump signed a bipartisan spending bill that allocated him $1.38 billion for border barriers. This falls more than $4 billion short of what Trump sought.

The president has received backlash for this, with many Democrats saying it is an unconstitutional abuse of his authority.

“We’re talking about an invasion of our country,” President Trump stated in defense of his actions. Trump plans to draw $6.7 billion from the military, $2.5 billion from counter-narcotics programs and $600 million from the Treasury Department.

Yet, this is the closest that President Trump has gotten to fulfilling his promise of building a wall along Mexico’s border.

Parkland victims reflect one year later

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By CAMILA MUNERA

The New York Times published an article on Feb. 14 remembering the Parkland Incident. It is the one-year anniversary since the devastating and heartbreaking shooting that happened at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High school in Parkland, Fla. The article written by Patricia Mazzei is beautifully written since it not only outlines the horrific events that happened this day but also shows the lasting impact one year later. 

In the article, photographs are taken by Eve Edelheit. These photographs I believe are the strongest element of this article and why photography is so important in journalism. In a series of interviews nine members from the Stoneman Douglas community including students, teachers, police officers and parents reflect on this tragic event a year later. In each segment of the article there is a photo of the person interviewed and beneath is their story. 

I love the way Mazzei approaches this matter because instead of writing an article explaining all the horrible events that occurred that day again— she let the people who actually experienced it be able to shine and tell their story. Reading these stories are extremely impactful hearing all the different things these people had to go through. It is important to know these stories because after this school shooting occurred, many citizens wanted to see a change but shootings in America and around the world continue today. 

The photographs are mostly candid, showing the true emotions the person felt. This article felt very raw and that I could relate to these people interviewed on an emotional and personal level even though I haven’t been what they have been through. It shows again and again the courage people have when violence outbursts occur and how we all must come together in order to remain strong. I hope journalism continues to use this approach of photography and journalism merged together because it makes the article and the story itself more relatable and interesting. 

NBA reveals high-tech jerseys

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By LAUREN YELNER

The National Basketball Association announced its “jersey of the future” this morning to kick off All-Star Weekend 2019. The jersey is cutting edge, with the ability to alter both the number and the player name at any time. This is something people have never seen before, as they are used to having to buy many jerseys to support all of their favorite players.

Bleacher Report publicized this release with a video that featured NBA commissioned Adam Silver showing people the functionality of the jersey, and even making it go from a Stephen Curry No. 30 jersey, to the classic Michael Jordan No. 23.

It is not surprising that the NBA is testing out technology among its clothing, as it is always trying to stay one step ahead of the game. Sports are driven by consumers who love the game, and this jersey will enhance the fans’ ability to support their favorite players without having to break the bank on a multitude of jerseys.

This jersey will not be able to withstand changes in style or players being traded, however, die hard fans of one team will be able to represent many players on a single jersey.

Sports illustrated also commented on the release of the new jerseys, adding that this was not the only technological advancement that was coming for the NBA. “Silver also announced plans for facial recognition ticketing, hologram mascots and virtual reality glasses to take fans from their couch into a virtual arena,” wrote Michael Shapiro of SI. NBA fans should be excited to see how the league keeps up with the ever-changing technology, especially in the near future.

U.S.-Huawei fight messing with 5G plans

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By OLIVER JIA

According to CNN, American’s fighting with Huawei is messing with the world’s 5G plans. 5G is a new technology that can bring high internet speed. Especially, it useful on self-driving cars and other high technology area. 

Huawei technology company has already built up such a strong lead in 5G technology. The United States is trying to persuade other countries do not let Huawei equipment and base stations into their countries, because the gear could be used by the Chinese government for spying. Huawei strongly denies the accusations. 

Some top international mobile operator stated that shutting Huawei out of 5G networks countries could have a risk on the undermining their own tech capabilities. Comparing the 4G network, 5G network was faster than 4G as much as 100 times. 

Australia’s government has decided to ban Huawei from providing 5G technology for network. The Vodafone’s (VOD) CEO Nick Read stated that complete ban on all Huawei gear would delay the variability of 5G.The United States and China are all big country in the world. They all have advanced technology, good economy in the world. So, the competition is always existed. If they cooperate each other. The 5G internet will be stronger. 

Grammys criticized for Motown tribute

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By LESLIE ANNE DOMINIQUE

Uh Oh! Did the Grammys really just do that? On Sunday’s biggest night in music, Jennifer Lopez graced the stage to perform a tribute in honor of Motown Records at the 61st annual Grammy Awards, and fans were not impressed.

Lopez took the stage took the stage to perform hits such as “Dancing in the Street,” “The Best Things in Life Are Free,” “Please Mr. Postman” and “Do You Love Me?” She also joined Smokey Robinson in a performance of “My Girl.” While, the performance was entertaining, her style of dress and salsa dancing had no relation to the Motown label.

For those who have been missing for the past century, Motown Records is a legendary Detroit record label known for popularizing Black music. Motown is responsible for the success of legends such as Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and, you guessed it, Michael Jackson. So maybe it can be understood why Motown fans were surprised to see Lopez parading the Staples Center stage in full leotard, to honor the label.

Fans took to Twitter to complain about the disaster. Many questioned why in Black History Month, on the eve of Motown’s 60th anniversary, would the Grammy’s choose Lopez, instead of a successful African American artist, to perform. Motown is a staple in the Black community and generated the first genuine respect for Black artists, thus the decision to choose Lopez was not fully thought through.

In response to all the controversy, Lopez spoke to “Entertainment Tonight” saying, “The thing about music is that it inspires all. Any type of music can inspire any type of artist. You can’t tell people what to love.” She went on to say, “It was for my mom. I could cry. It’s such a good moment. It’s just a dream come true.” Many find J-Lo’s defense to be sub- par.

Talented she may be, the Lopez Motown medley simply missed the mark and overshadowed the success and legacy of Motown Records.

This story has been widespread throughout the news media, being reported by various outlets. Some sources, such as The Grape Vine, reported rather harsh on Lopez and claimed that her performance gentrified the Motown genre. Whereas, “Entertainment Tonight” and many others defended J-Lo’s performance, not understanding the significance of the performance. Many commended her performance, missing the point of the entire backlash.

Crisis in Venezuela deepens

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By SHANIKA ISAACS

As Venezuelans struggled to meet their daily needs, President Nicolas Maduro continued to block passage for humanitarian efforts of supplying food to the public. For the government not to take the responsibility of assisting his suffering people, this in-turn spoke depth into the type of president he represented.

With the country facing the backlash of a heavily depreciated dollar, the cost for basic living skyrocketed, making it very hard for people to get find or get food. Jobs in the country depreciated to the point of no existence which made it very hard for anyone to make a living.

Thus, the crime rate was recorded as the highest in the Western Hemisphere, as new born babies faced a higher chance in being malnourished. Health care and medicine became scares as elders suffer the most. Imagine living in a country that did not provide the necessity of filling a prescription, while in America pharmacists cater to their patients as a norm.

The UN estimated that there will be more than 5.3 million Venezuelan refugees and migrants by the end of 2019. Around three million people were said to be displaced and found in nearby countries like Colombia and some as far as Spain.

Why would President Maduro allow the country to get to such a state? As a result, why does he not allow Juan Guaido to take over? Is this a matter of power or humility?

Butterfly group fights border wall

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By LAUREN MAINGOT

The North American Butterfly Association is seeking to block the Trump administration from constructing its border wall through the National Butterfly Center in Southern Texas, pleading to a federal judge that the project interferes with its property rights.

The 100-acre wildlife facility is set the be cut in half by one of the first new wall projects being constructed under President Donald Trump, according to NPR. The project and its related construction, already approved and funded as part of last fiscal year’s budget, would cause “irreparable harm” to the sanctuary, said Marianna Trevino Wright, director of the facility.

“The issue is not whether butterflies can fly over a wall, but whether private property should be seized and destroyed for a project that does not serve the greater good or enhance national security,” the National Butterfly Center posted in a GoFundMe in December.

The case takes place in the midst of a looming national emergency Trump is expected to declare in an effort to finance for his proposed wall. He has met strong opposition to his border security plans in congress, resulting in the longest government shutdown in history last month.

Heavy coverage of both the Congressional standoff and public debate over the U.S.-Mexico border wall has proliferated in the news media as Trump continues to push for its construction. This story is yet another in the line of related stories that shows the intense polarity regarding his plans, now from the perspective of conservationists and private property owners. The Hill calls it “the ugly political reality of the wall: Even if Trump wins wall money in Washington, the administration will still face an array of challenges to getting anything built.”

One year later: Parkland shooting

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By GIANNA SANCHEZ

One year after the Marjory Stoneman Douglas shooting and people everywhere are still grieving. While Feb. 14 used to be the day of love, people are now mourning and changing their outlook on the day. This day will be remembered by many forever and has made a huge impact on the lives of many.

This was not the first time there had been a school shooting. In fact, there were approximately 11 before Parkland happened. However, shootings in the past did not get covered like this one. This shooting in particular seemed to affect everyone all over the country and even in different parts of the world. One of the biggest reasons this become such a prominent movement was because of the people leading this movement and the news coverage it was given.

Shootings happen every day. There have been an estimated 38 killings that have already occurred in 2019 alone. I have heard about maybe three of these shootings, but nothing close received the coverage that Stoneman Douglas did.

The news media played a huge role in the start of this movement. Often times when there is a mass shooting, the news media move on to something else after a day or two of coverage. With this particular shooting, people discussed it for weeks. And even one year later, the coverage continues on what the people affected by this shooting are still doing today.

Why did the news media care so much about this and not about others? Was it the number of people affected and the area of the school? Was it because of the effect it had on the community? While the coverage for this instance may have been exactly what people needed to hear, the same attention has still not been brought to anything since then.

News outlets need to give equal coverage to events that may have links to them like this. The news media oftentimes takes out details and downplays events as to not insight fear in society. However, information like this should be of public concern. People should know the details about everything that happens, not just when it happens one time.

Anti-Semitism? Who cares?

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By LIAM FABRE

Ilhan Omar posted an openly anti-Semitic comment and basically, no one cares.Earlier this week Congresswoman Ilhan Omar re-tweeted a statement posted by Glenn Greenwald in which he expressed his discontent over continued U.S. support for Israel. Along with her re-tweet she added the statement, “It’s all about the Benjamins baby,” implying that U.S. support for Israel was entirely bought and paid for by the Jews.

This statement upholds the long-time anti-Semitic view that Jews in America simply buy out politicians and worse, that no one in American politics supports Israel simply from a moral basis. Her comments are disgusting and she should resign from the House Foreign Affairs Committee immediately.

What was the response from the news media? The short answer, not much. Instead of focusing on the statement itself, stories focused on the fact that Omar is a “fresh face” in Congress and thus, still finding her way. Stories also covered the fact that Republicans “pounced” on her statement and overreacted.

Omar later apologized, but I would hardly call her statement an apology. She said, in another tweet, that she apologized unequivocally for any pain she may have caused, but that she stood by her statement. In my book, that is not an apology. It seems that for the left anti-Semitism is not a problem.

Omar will stay a Congresswoman and she will keep her position on the Foreign Affairs Committee. If we are to become a society without hate and one of equality, we must denounce all offensive statements. Not only the ones that further our political goals.