Putin clarifies Trump comment and says America is the world's 'only superpower'

Putin clarifies Trump comment and says America is the world's 'only superpower'

"America is a great power. Today, probably, the only superpower. We accept that," the
Russian president said at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum. "We want to
and are ready to work with the United States."
Alluding to US-EU sanctionslll on Russia in response to its military actions in Ukraine
he continued. "The world needs such strong nations, like the US. And we need them. But
we don't need them constantly getting mixed up in our affairs, instructing us how to live,
preventing Europe from building a relationship with us."
Asked about the presumptive Republican nominee for president, Putin again described
Trump as a "flamboyant" or "colorful" man, using a Russian word — "MPKMVf131" -
that can be translated with ambiguous connotations, from gaudy to striking to dazzling.
"You see, it's like I said," Putin told his questioner. "Trump's a colorful person. And
well, isn't he colorful? Colorful. I didn't make any other kind of characterization about
him.
"But here's where I will pay close attention, and where I exactly welcome and where on
the contrary I don't see anything bad: Mr Trump has declared that he's ready for the full
restoration of Russian-American relations. Is there anything bad there? We all welcome
this, don't you?"
In December, months before Trump clinched the Republican nomination, Putin called
him "a colorful person, talented, without any doubt" and said: "It's not our business to
decide his merits, that's for US voters, but he is absolutely the leader in the presidential
race."
Trump has for months misinterpreted Putin's comments as "a great honor" and clear
praise, rather than consider the various meanings Of the word.
"When people call you brilliant, it's always good, especially when the person heads up
Russia," he told MSNBC shortly after Putin's original comments.
In May Trump falsely described the comments as a compliment Of his intelligence. "They
want me to disavow Putin," he said. "Putin of Russia said Trump is a genius."
Trump has proposed US-Russian cooperation regarding Syria, counter-terrorism and
trade deals, and defended Putin's record on eliminating a free press. The Kremlin and
its allies have over 15 years dismantled independent news organizations, and the 2006
murder of investigative reporter Anna Politkovskaya(81 has also been linked by activists
to Putin's Kremlin. Trump told ABC in December: "it's never been proven that he killed
anybody. "
The businessman's top campaign aide, Paul Manafort, was an adviser to Viktor
Yanukovych, a pro-Kremlin Ukrainian politician who was fled to Russia after a 2014
revolution ousted him from office.
Putin also spoke carefully on Friday about the presumptive Democratic nominee, Hillary
Clinton, saying he did not work much with her directly when she was secretary of state.
"She probably has her own view of US-Russian relations," he said.

But he praised her husband, former president Bill Clinton, saying: "We had a very nice
relationship.
"I can even say that I'm grateful to him for several moments, when I was making my
entrance into world politics. On several occasions he showed signs of attention, respect
to me personally and to Russia."
The diplomatic remarks belie the cold and increasingly hostile relations between Clinton
and Putin toward the end Of her time in the Obama administration. In 2011, when he was
prime minister of Russia and facing massive street protests, Putin accused the then
secretary of state of fomenting dissent. Clinton's state department, he said, had sent
a "signal" and "support" to opposition leaders.
On Friday Putin insisted Russia does not interfere in other nation's affairs, and that the
Kremlin would be glad to work with any leader elected abroad.
"We need to bring back trust to Russia-European relations and restore the level of
cooperation," he said. 

Response: This article is slightly biased against Donald Trump, but in very subtle ways. This article, to me, seems to display Trump's inability to manage international affairs. Trump, while an intelligent person, is portrayed in this article to be slightly obsessed with himself and unable to understand the comments and views of other leaders around the world. The world leaders recognize Trump as the likely next president so their opinions of him are clouded over with diplomacy and carefully put as to not directly offend or insult; however, Trump, in his selfish view of life often views these comments as direct praise. Personally, the biggest reason why I am opposed to Trump as president would be his inability to deal with international affairs in a delicate and diplomatic manner, which I see (even despite the bias) displayed within this article.

Citation: Yuhas, Alan. "Putin clarifies Trump comment and says America is the world's 'only superpower'". 18 June 2016. Guardian News and Media Limited. 21 June 2016. 

Britain faces seven years of limbo after Brexit, says Donald Tusk

Britain faces seven years of limbo after Brexit, says Donald Tusk

Britain could face up to seven years of limbo if voters choose to leave the European

Unionlll in the 23 June referendum as negotiations take place over a new relationship,

Donald Tusk, the president of the European council, has said.

With polls suggesting the result of the referendum on 23 June will be close, and voters

keen to understand what the practicalities would be if Britain left, Tusk poured cold

water on claims by some in Vote Leave that a new deal with the EU could be struck

quickly.

Any country wanting to leave can trigger article 50 of the Lisbon treaty, which triggers a

two-year process Of negotiation about the terms Of the departure with the Other 27

member-states. The talks would be expected to tackle issues such as the tariffs the EU

would apply to British goods, and the restrictions placed on freedom of movement.

Tusk, who chairs the EU's main decision-making body, said that even if the negotiations

could be completed within two years, the ratification Of Britain's new status could take

much longer.

"Every single one of the 27 member states as well as the European parliament would have

to approve the overall result. That would take at least five years, and I'm afraid, without

any guarantee Of success," he said in an interview with the German daily Bild, to be

published in full on Monday.

David Cameron has repeatedly stressed that Britain could face a "decade of uncertainty"

while a new relationship is established with the rest of the EU if voters choose to leave.

Vote Leave campaigners have suggested the exit process would be relatively

straightforward, and would then release Britain to strike new trade deals with non-EU

states.

EU politicians have united in warning British voters about the perils Of Brexit. The

German chancellor, Angela Merkel, said it would be difficult for Britain to command the

same negotiating power from outside the EU; and her finance minister, Wolfgang

Schaüble, said on Friday that Britain would no longer have access to the single market.

"In is in. Out is out," he told Spiegel magazine. "I hope and believe that the British will

ultimately decide against Brexit. The withdrawal of Britain would be a heavy loss for

Response: Response: This article is definitely, at least slightly, biased against Brexit (the removal of Britain from the EU) as it mentions multiple reasons why Britain shouldn't pull and the only pro really mentioned would be expanding trade. If Britain does decide to leave the EU it will lead to years of partial instability in the government as they deal with political negotiations for the next two years, at least. Right now, in light of the rising war on terror, I don’t think it would be a good idea for Britain to the leave the EU. There is enough tension on most of the countries in Europe with all of the refugees and migrants coming in from Syria, Britain leaving the EU would potentially put more pressure on those countries as well as on Britain. While it may seem to be potentially rewarding for Britain in regards to trade and other economic areas, politically it doesn't seem to be the smartest move right now.

Citation: Stewart, Heather. "Britain faces seven years of limbo after Brexit, says Donald Tusk." 12 June 2016. Guardian News and Media Limited. 14 June 2016. <http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jun/12/britain-faces-seven-years-of-limbo-after-brexit-says-donald-tusk>

1l Killed, 36 Wounded After Deadly Bomb Attack In Istanbul Targeting Police

1l Killed, 36 Wounded After Deadly Bomb Attack In Istanbul Targeting Police

A bomb was placed inside a car and detonated as a bus carrying riot police passed during rush hour traffic in Istanbul today, killing seven police officers and four civilians, and leaving 36 wounded.

The explosion occurred on a busy intersection near an Istanbul University building, forcing officials to cancel exams. The blast caused the police bus to overturn from the force, and a nearby hotel was gutted and the windows were blown out - fortunately the hotel was closed and had no guests.

'Seven law enforcers and four civilians have died in the attack," Istanbul Governor Vasip Sahin told reporters.

"Thirty-six people have been injured, three are in critical condition." Citing a police source, Turkish broadcaster NTV reported that some 14 people have been injured in the attack, eight law enforcers among them.

Foreign minister Melvut Cavusoglu condemned the attack, which occurred on the second day of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan. "They are cold-heartedly exploding bombs on a Ramadan day" Cavusoglu added. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, and Istanbul governor Vasip Sahin wouldn't comment on who may be behind the attack.

An Istanbul court has imposed a temporary ban on coverage of a number of details regarding the bomb attack, TASS repofted, citing a statement from Turkey's Supreme Council for Radio and Television. The ban has been introduced in order to "maintain public order, protect territorial integrity and prevent crime." It concerns coverage of the ongoing investigation, footage showing the victims and those injured, police transcripts of talks, and demonstration of materials related to the suspects. The ruling covers all Turkish media. Similar measures were taken during previous terrorist attacks in Turkey.

A fresh wave of explosions has hit Turkish cities in recent months, including major urban areas.

A car stuffed with explosives detonated near military barracks in Istanbul in May, injuring eight people. The Turkish military blamed the attack on Kurdish fighters. In March, 37 people were killed in a bombing near public bus stops in the Turkish capital, Ankara.

As the WSJ explains:

Tuesday's attack was the fourth major bombing in Istanbul this year. Two of them targeting tourists and two hitting security forces. The spike in violence has led to a sharp dip in tourism, a mainstay of the economy.

The rebels ofthe Kurdistan Workem' Parv, or PKK, have been targeting police and military personnel with bombs since July, when a fragile peace process between the rebels and the government collapsed.

Islamic State group has also been blamed for a series of deadly bombings in Turkey, which is part ofthe U. S-led coalition against IS.

An estimated 500 Turkish security personnel have been killed in attacks or in conflict With the Kurdish rebels, according to the military, which claims to have killed 4,900 PKK militants in operations in Turkey and northern Iraq, where the group has a major bastion. Turkish warplanes regularly raid PKK bases in northern Iraq.

Limited access to conflict areas in the southeast has made it difficult to verify casualty figures.

The PKK is fighting for autonomy for Turkey's Kurds in the southeast of the country. The decades-long insurgency against the Turkish State is a conflict that has claimed 40,000 lives. The group is considered a terrorist organization by Turkey and its allies.

Last month, eight people were wounded in Istanbul after a car bomb similarly targeted a military vehicle near the entrance of a garrison as the evening rush hour began.

Response: This article, as stated by its publishing company, was meant to help inform the "professional investing public" about political, economic, and financial issues. This is the stated bias of the company itself which will effect what information they feel necessary to convey and what events they feel their target audience will connect with the most. This article is reporting an bomb that was remotely detonated in a police vehicle, killing seven police officers and four civilians. Along with the casualties, 36 were wounded. The biggest shock that this attack brought was that it was carried out during Ramadan which was unexpected to say the least. It begs the question, are there no times when certain countries are safe from terrorist attacks? We are living in an era where terrorist attacks are becoming more and more prevalent and all political authorities are learning how to deal with these threats and respond to these attacks in a way that will positively affect or at least protect their countries social and economic structures. This is where it starts to effect "professionals investing in public". Especially regarding international business men, companies and private organizations are going to soon have to start analyzing and responding to these attacks/threats and they will effect trading with certain countries and dealing with certain international and political companies.

Citation: Durden, Tyler. "11 killed, 36 Wounded After Deadly Bomb Attack In Istanbul Targeting Police." 7 June 2016. ZeroHedge.com/ABC Media, LTD. 8 June 2016. <http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-06-07/11-killed-36-wounded-after-deadly-bomb-attack-istanbul-targeting-police>

China bans 'erotic' eating of the fruit on live streams

China bans 'erotic' eating of the fruit on live streams

Authorities have barred live-streaming platforms from airing videos of women

'seductively' eating bananas. Photograph: Alamy

Chinalll has reportedly outlawed the "erotic" online consumption of bananas after the

president, Xi Jinping, called for steps to "rehabilitate" his country's "cyber-ecology".

Speaking at a Communist party summit last year, Xi said action was needed to promote

"civilised behaviour" on China's already heavily controlled internet.

That clean-up has now claimed an unlikely, potassium-rich victim, according to domestic

media reports.

Beijing-controlled broadcaster CCTV said authorities had barred live-streaming

platforms from airing videos in which bananas are "seductively" consumed by young

female presenters.

CCTV said the move was part of a wider attempt to rein in online content deemed too

vulgar, too violent or too sexual.

Live-streaming platforms such as Douyu, Panda-tv, and YY are among those who have

been ordered to clean up their acts, the broadcaster reported.

Such firms will now be required to constantly monitor their output for any hint of illicit

fruit consumption. Presenters have also been banned from wearing miniskirts and

revealing tops.

The measures are a response to the breathtaking but largely unregulated growth in

China's live-streaming sector.

The boom has created a generation of wealthy online celebrities but also a huge

headache for the government, which fears such channels are being used to spread smut.

The state-run China Daily newspaper said there were more than 100 live-streaming

platforms on which young "hosts" broadcast their lives to sometimes huge audiences.

YY, the market leader, claims more than 120 million active users and had revenues last

year of 5.9bn yuan (E630m), according to the Associated Press.

The audience for live streams is almost entirely male, according to reports in the

domestic media, but the content varies hugely. YY users, for example, can tune into live

streams in which presenters draw dogs, play drums, put on their makeup, sing, dance,

cook, dine or take care of their skin.

One of the most famous live-streaming "hostesses" is Papi Jiang, a 29-year-old comedian

who has millions of online followers but was recently reprimanded(61 by authorities for

using foul language during her broadcasts.

Zheng Lu, a Tsinghua University sociologist, said that while it was not morally wrong for

adults to watch "erotic and sexually suggestive content" on the internet, there was a risk

that children could be exposed to the videos.

"I think there is a need for the government to do some supervising in this respect,"

Zheng said, calling for an internet rating system whereby live streams could be classified

like films.

On Monday, after reports Of the banana ban emerged, the China Daily said the live-

streaming industry was braced for stricter regulation. Those using live-streaming sites to

promote "obnoxious shows of violent, sexual or criminal nature" would be targeted, it

said.

Response:  While this article does not directly deal with a great international issue, it does provide a great example of the power of media in today's world and the influence it has on society. The Chinese government has set up the 'banana ban' which prohibits anyone from posting a video or picture depicting someone eating a banana in a sexual manner. It also prohibits women from posting pictures of themselves wearing miniskirts or revealing tops. This article paints this issue to seem ridiculous and it is to a point. However, it cannot be ignored that pornography is a huge issue in many countries all over the world and it all starts with seemingly innocent pictures of scantily clad women eating bananas.

Citation: Phillips, Tom. "China bans 'erotic eating of the fruit on live streams." 9 May 2016. Guardian News and Media Limited. 9 May 2016. <http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/may/09/gone-bananas-china-bans-erotic-eating-live-streams> 

Crackdown in Turkey's Kurdish south-east turns journalists into 'terrorists'

Crackdown in Turkey's Kurdish south-east 
turns journalists into 'terrorists' 
Reporters for pro-Kurdish media are routinely detained, while those Of pro-government 

outlets cannot always write what they want 

People search their ruined houses in Cizre, south-east Turkey. Photograph: Cagdas 

Erdogan/Getty Images 

Refik Tekin, an award-winning photographer and video journalist, had been covering the 

curfew in the predominantly Kurdish city of Cizre, south-east Turkeylll, for more than a 

month when a report by a pro-government news agency turned him into a terrorist. 

Tekin accompanied a group carrying white flags that wanted to retrieve bodies and 

injured people from a nearby street when security forces suddenly opened fire, wounding 

nine and killing two, including a member of the city council. Tekin was shot in the leg but 

kept filming. 

A police officer later dragged the injured journalist along the ground to an ambulance. 

"The policeman shouted at me, telling me not to 100k at him. He said: 'You are all 

terrorists, you will see the strengths of the Turks!' This struck me as an especially strange 

thing to say. Am I not a citizen of this country?" said Tekin. 

Turkish security forces open fire on Kurds — videot21 

The state-run Anadolu agency described the incident as a clash between security forces 

and terrorists: 

"Clashes between security forces and terrorists erupted in the Cizre district of $irnak 

province. Three terrorists were neutralised and nine others wounded. There was an 

attempt to lhelp the wounded terrorists escape/ with funeral cars and ambulances 

belonging to the Cizre municipality. An alleged cameraman working for a TV channel 

was reported to be among the injured. " 

Tekin was accused Of being a member Of a terrorist organisation. The charges have since 

been dropped, but the pressure remains. 

"It gets harder and harder for journalists to keep an eye on what is happening in the 

(Kurdish regionl," said Tekin, who is still using crutches and unable to work131. "The 

government controls the narrative, barring a large part of the country from knowing what 

is going on." 

Citation: Letsch, Constanze. "Crackdown in Turkey's Kurdish south-east turns journalist into 'terrorists'." 3 May 2016. Guardian News and Media Limited. 3 May 2016. <http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/may/03/crackdown-in-turkeys-kurdish-south-east-turns-journalists-into-terrorists>

Response: The freedom of press is a huge problem in many developing countries. Turkey is at the point where journalists have to fight to print the truth, which most countries have experienced at one point or another. This is a story of a famous journalist who is now ostracized by other Turks because he is a journalist striving to print truth for his people. Without freedom of press in a country the government loses a certain amount of accountability from its people, and it will remain that until journalists and other members of the media fight for the freedom of press. 

Afghan President Demands Pakistan Take Military Action Against Taliban

Afghan President Demands Pakistan Take Military Action Against Taliban

President Ashraf Ghani of Afghanistan said that Pakistan needed to live up to the agreement

made in quadrilateral talks to help eliminate Taliban sanctuaries within its country.


KABUL, Afghanistan — After courting Pakistan for more than a year, President Ashraf Ghani

of Afghanistan changed course on Monday and warned that he would lodge a complaint with

the United Nations Security Council if Pakistan refuses to take military action against

Taliban(41 leaders operating from its soil to wage an increasingly deadly insurgency across

Afghanistan.

Mr. Ghani has taken pains to persuade Pakistan's leadership, particularly its powerful

military, to bring the insurgent leaders to the negotiating table. But an increase in Taliban

violence, including a brutal attack last week in the heart of the Afghan capital, Kabul, that

left at least 64 people killed and more than 300 wounded, has forced Mr. Ghani to effectively

end what has been a cornerstone effort of his troubled presidency.

"l want to make it clear that we do not expect Pakistan to bring the Taliban to talks," Mr.

Ghani said on Monday in a rare joint session of the two houses of the Afghan Parliament.

He said that in quadrilateral talks over the past year that involved the United States and

China, Pakistan had pledged "in writing" to go after Taliban leaders who refuse to join the

peace process.


"We want the Pakistanis to fulfill their promises in the quadrilateral and take military action

against those who have their centers in Pakistan and whose leaders are in Pakistan based on

our security organizations, the intelligence of our international partners, and the words of

Pakistan officials," Mr. Ghani said.

"If we do not see a change, despite our hopes and efforts for regional cooperation, we will be

forced to turn to the U.N. Security Council and launch serious diplomatic efforts."

Despite repeated promises from Pakistan to bring Taliban leaders to talks, the peace efforts

seem to have gone nowhere with the insurgency using the window to consolidate after

infightingll Il emerged in the ranks and launch another spring offensive promising to be

bloodier than in years past. Unlike previous years, the violence did not subside even in the

harsh winter months.

In his address on Monday, Mr. Ghani called the insurgents terrorists who "take pleasure in the

torn-up bodies of our innocents," and their leaders "slavelike" and involved in narcotics

mafias.

But the Taliban were quick to respond; their spokesmen posted on Twitter live during Mr.

Ghani's address.

"The nation is not blind — it realizes who is a slave, and who is a hireling," said Zabihullah

Mujahid, a Taliban spokesman, posting a picture of senior government officials listening to the

former commander of NATO and United States forces in Afghanistan, Gen. John F. Campbell.

"We will continue fighting until the occupation is ended."

Follow Mujib Mashal on nvitter@MujMasht.

Citation: Mashal, Mujib. "Afghan President Demands Pakistan Take Military  Action Against Taliban." 25 April 2016. New York Times. 26 April 2016. <http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/26/world/asia/afghanistan-pakistan-taliban.html?ref=world&_r=1>

Response: This article is talking about how the Afghan president is urging Pakistan to take out the leaders of the Taliban residing on their soil that refuse to join the peace talks. Pakistan has promised "in writing" but no action has taken place. Recently the Taliban attacked the capital city of Afghanistan, Kabul, and as a result many people were killed. This article is very clearly biased towards Afghanistan. The author of this article never mentions any possible reasons for Pakistan's lack of action and paints them to look like cowards. The author chose to relay that 300 were wounded and 64 were killed in the attacks in Kabul which may be truthful information it is not 100% relevant to the author's point. The article ends with a tweet posted by the Taliban against the government of Afghanistan. This article portrays the Taliban in an unruly and brutal light, while victimizing Afghanistan, and at the same time seemingly blaming Pakistan for everything. 

 

North Korea threatens to reduce US and South Korea to 'flames and ash'

North Korea threatens to reduce US and South Korea to 'flames and ash' 

Pyongyang has issued its latest belligerent threat, warning of an indiscriminate 'preemptive
nuclear strike of justice'

North Korean TV says US will be 'held accountable for igniting war'
North Korea has threatened to turn Washington and Seoul into "flames and ashes", warning
of an indiscriminate "pre—emptive nuclear strike of justice" in reaction to the start of US—South
Korean military drills.
Such threats have been a staple of the North Korean leader, Kim Jong—un, since he took power after 

his father's death in December 2011 . But they tend to increase when Washington and
Seoul stage what they describe as annual defensive springtime war games.
North Korea steps up army recruitment ahead of
US military exercise

Pyongyang says the drills, which were set to start on Monday and run to the end of April, are
rehearsals for invading.
North Korea's powerful National Defence Commission threatened strikes against targets in
South Korea US bases in the Pacific and the US mainland, saying its enemies "are working
with bloodshot eyes to infringe upon the dignity, sovereignty and vital rights" of the country.
"If we push the buttons to annihilate the enemies even right now, all bases Of provocations will
be reduced to seas in flames and ashes in a moment," the statement said.
A pre—emptive, large—scale military strike that would end the authoritarian rule of the Kim
dynasty is highly unlikely.
There is also considerable outside debate about whether North Korea is even capable of the kind
of strikes it threatens. The country makes progress with each new nuclear test, having staged its
fourth in January but many experts say North Korea's arsenal may consist only of still—crude
nuclear bombs.

There is uncertainty as to whether it has mastered the miniaturisation process needed to mount
bombs on warheads and widespread doubt over whether the country has a reliable long—range
missile that could deliver such a bomb to the US mainland.
But North Korea's bellicose rhetoric raises unease in Seoul and the US, not least because of the
huge number of troops and weaponry facing off along the world's most heavily armed border,
which is an hour's drive from the South Korean capital of Seoul and its 10 million residents.
Korean animosity occasionally erupts in bloody skirmishes. Fifty South Koreans were killed in
attacks in 2010 that Seoul blames on North Korea, and there are always concerns about an
escalation of violence.
Relations between North Korea and Seoul and Washington have worsened since North Korea's
nuclear test in January and a long—range rocket test last month, which outsiders said was a test
Of banned ballistic missile technology.
The United Nations recently imposed strong new sanctions on North Korea, and South
Korea has said it will announce new unilateral sanctions on Tuesday.
Similar nuclear threats by North Korea were made in 201 3, around the time of the springtime
military drills, after it was sanctioned by the UN over a nuclear test and long-range rocket
launch.
South Korea's military said this year's war games will be the largest yet staged, involving
300,000 South Korean military personnel and 1 7,000 from the US. Analysts say one element
of North Korea's traditional anger over the drills is that they force the impoverished nation to
respond with its own costly war games.
Responding to North Korea's threat, South Korean defence ministry spokesman Moon Sang
Gyun said it must refrain from a "rash act that brings destruction upon itselto.

Response: This article talks about more threats made by North Korea against South Korea and the US because of military drills being held in South Korea. These military drills involve 300,000 South Korean military personnel and 17,000 US military personnel. This article is clearly biased towards the US and South Korea in two distinct ways. Firstly, the author of this article chooses to take the time to question the validity of North Korea's "bellicose rhetoric" and the reality of their "advanced nuclear weaponry". The author actually states, "… many experts say North Korea's arsenal may consist only of still-crude nuclear bombs." Beyond this, though, the author turns around and still defends the US and South Korea for feeling uneasy by saying, "not lease because of the huge number of troops and weaponry facing off along the world's most heavily armed border, which is an hour's drive from the South Korean capital of Seoul and its 10 million residents." The author first questions North Korea's capabilities but then turns around, proving they are threat, as to defend the actions of the US and South Korea.

Citation: “North Korea threatens to reduce US and South Korea to ‘flames and ash’” 7 March 2016. Guardian News and Media Limited. 8 March 2016. <http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/mar/07/north-korea-threatens-to-reduce-us-and-south-korea-to-flames-and-ash>