In Zimbabwe, a major humanitarian crisis continues to unfold. An ongoing cholera epidemic has killed nearly 1,000 people, even as political uncertainty surrounding leader Robert Mugabe persists.
A military commander close to Mugabe was shot on Saturday, in what the Zimbabwe government claimed was an assassination attempt. Andrew Meldrum, a senior editor at GlobalPost, reported from Zimbabwe for more than 20 years and joins Martin Savidge to discuss the shooting incident, the future of the political situation in Zimbabwe and potential options for the Obama administration in the African nation.
Meanwhile Zimbabweans grow ever more desperate to escape the crisis in Zimbabwe with hundreds of Zimbabweans crossing illegally into South Africa every day.
In the video below, Al Jazeera’s Jonah Hull reports from the border town of Musina in South Africa.
Just how many Zimbabweans must die before the world community acts?
“Let me get right to the point. Your invitation to Reverend Rick Warren to deliver the invocation at your inauguration is a genuine blow to LGBT Americans.” — ” Joe Solomnese, the president of the Human Rights Campaign
“Pastor Warren, while enjoying a reputation as a moderate based on his affable personality and his church’s engagement on issues like AIDS in Africa, has said that the real difference between James Dobson and himself is one of tone rather than substance. He has repeated the Religious Right’s big lie that supporters of equality for gay Americans are out to silence pastors. He has called Christians who advance a social gospel Marxists. He is adamantly opposed to women having a legal right to choose an abortion.” — Kathryn Kolbert, president of People For the American Way
It is not just disappointing to learn that the President-elect has selected Pastor Rick Warren of the Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California to give the invocation at the inauguration on January 20th, it is downright an insult. Perhaps the President-elect can get Pastor Warren to repeat the above live and in person. I dare the President-elect not to be repulsed.
When the new U.S. Congress is sworn in in January, one of the first orders of business will be a new economic stimulus package. Legislators and analysts say a stimulus bill will likely include an increase in food assistance and food stamps. Jeff Swicord reports that the number of Americans in need of food assistance is at an all time high. More from the Washington Post:
Fueled by rising unemployment and food prices, the number of Americans on food stamps is poised to exceed 30 million for the first time this month, surpassing the historic high set in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina.
The figures will put the spotlight on hunger when Congress begins deliberations on a new economic stimulus package, said legislators and anti-hunger advocates, predicting that any stimulus bill will include a boost in food stamp benefits. Advocates are also optimistic that President-elect Barack Obama, who made campaign promises to end childhood hunger and whose mother once briefly received food stamps, will make the issue a priority next year.
“We soon will have the most food stamps recipients in the history of our country,” said Jim Weill, president of the Food Research and Action Center, a D.C.-based anti-hunger policy organization. “If the economic forecasts come true, we’re likely to see the most hunger that we’ve seen since the 1981 recession and maybe since the 1960s, when these programs were established.”
If it plays in Peoria, it will play anywhere must be the thinking of President-elect Obama for he has selected Congressman Ray LaHood of the Illinois 18th Congressional District that includes the fabled Peoria. Representative LaHood sits on the Appropriations committee though he didn’t run for re-election. Mr. LaHood is an Arab-American of Jordanian descent and by all accounts a moderate Republican but I am not sure what qualifies him to run the Transportation Department.
ABC’s George Stephanopoulos reports that President-elect Barack Obama is expected to pick Illinois Republican Rep. Ray LaHood as his Transportation secretary.
Obama’s choice of LaHood marks the first registered Republican Obama has chosen for his Cabinet. Robert Gates, who will remain defense secretary in Obama’s administration, considers himself a Republican but is registered as an independent.
LaHood is currently serving out his 7th term in the U.S. House of Representatives and was on par for retirement from the House when his term expired this January.
Republicans are already reacting positively to the choice.
“Ray LaHood is a good friend, a solid member of our congressional delegation, and would would make a fine addition to any administration,” Illinois Republican Party chairman Andy McKenna said in a paper statement.
Giant sea spiders, ancient species of bacteria and new starfish living in communities are just some of hundreds of sea creatures that have been discovered by scientists conducting decade-long census of sea life. Researchers in more than 80 nations are participating in the effort which is funded by governments, foundations and corporations. Scientists presented some of their findings at recent conference as the project nears its completion.
VOA’s Paul Sisco has more on some of what has been found during the Census of Marine Life (amazing photographs at the site).