The News Canon - Edition 5

Monday 12th December 2022

THE NEWS CANON

Read on to find out:

Why has the UK has approved a new could mine despite the climate crisis?

What are Harry & Meghan’s views on the royals and race?

Why has Elon Musk had it with Kanye?

What has led to China to cancel ‘ zero Covid’?

Christmas countdown: 13 days ©©©

Democrats victorious, angry Republicans defeated

By Imani

In November, the US held its 2022 Midterm elections, so they could elect their new Congress. The Congress is split into two parts: the Senate and the House of Representatives, both of which have elected officials (unlike the House of Lords in UK which isn’t representative).

Midterm elections occur every two years, in the middle of the President’s four-year term, and this year, all the House of Representatives is up for election, plus one third of the Senate.

With the US being one of the most politically divided countries in the world, this year there was genuine fear over whether a ‘Red Wave’ would occur – that Republicans would gain a majority in both the Senate and House by a large margin. This would mean that, even though President Joe Biden is a Democrat, it would be very hard for Democrats’ bills (laws) to pass.

With some Republicans unashamedly saying that their main goal is to ‘stop Democrats’ (Mitch McConnell – 2021), and not necessarily do what’s best for their country, experts say that it would’ve been disastrous to have Republicans take control of the Senate, who have the power to block or pass bills.

However, the results of the November elections were not as bad as feared. The ‘Red Wave’ was

reduced to a Red Trickle, with Democrats taking control of the Senate, though Republicans took control of the House. This was due largely to the momentous number of Millennial and Gen-Z voters who went out and voted Blue for the first time. There was also a record-breaking number of female voters who voted in this midterm election, more than any before (cue Beyoncé Run the World).

However, one state didn’t have a clear decisive win at the time, because no Senate candidate got a majority. This meant that Georgia had to hold run-off elections on December 6th. The race was between Democrat candidate Rev. Raphael Warnock and Republican Herschel Walker.

Raphael Warnock, a pastor for an Atlanta church, won the election with a 51.7% majority, solidifying the Democrats’ control of the Senate, meaning Republicans will struggle to block bills like they wanted to.

Midterms are confusing for us Brits, but they are an important part of the American democracy, as they make sure their governing system remains representative every two years. With Democrats having more support than ever, and Republicans fuming at the results, who knows where the country will go next?

Method:

Step 1: mix everything apart from the flour in a bowl until well combined, then add the flour and mix Shape the dough into two flat discs and wrap them up, chill them for 20/30 mins. Heat the oven to 190c/fan 170c

Step 2: role out the dough (thickness of a £1 coin roughly) and cut out your shapes, bake for 10-12 mins until lightly golden

Step3: decorate (once cooled) and eat!!

UK coal mine approved for the first time in decades

By Aryn

Michael Gove, an MP for Surrey Heath and the communities and levelling-up secretary, has recently approved the first new coal mine in 30 years, but will this benefit the UK economy or double back on climate targets?

The mine would be near Whitehaven in Cumbria and would dig up coking coal for steel production globally. The local county council initially approved the mine in 2020, but its approval was suspended in early 2021 ahead of the COP26 conference, after the government’s climate change advisor said it would increase carbon emissions.

Supporters of the mine claim it will create jobs and reduce the need to import coal. A letter outlining the plan said Mr Gove agreed with the planning inspector’s recommendation to approve the mine. He was “satisfied that there is currently a UK and European market for the coal”. The secretary of state says effects of the mine on carbon emissions “would be relatively neutral and not significant”. Furthermore, some say it will be less damaging than importing coal from USA or Russia and would support the government’s pledge to level up and reduce regional inequality.

On the other hand, Labour says the government’s pledge doesn’t have to conflict with net zero commitments, and that the government should instead invest in jobs in renewable energy, insulation, and nuclear power. Lord Deben, the chairman of the UK’s independent Committee on

Climate Change (UKCCC) described the proposal as “absolutely indefensible” and argues that it would damage the UK’s leadership on climate change. Critics say the mine would undermine climate targets and that the demand for coking coal is declining. Tony Bosworth, a Friends of the Earth campaigner said that “the mine isn’t needed, will add to global climate emissions, and won’t replace Russian coal”.

The local council had granted permission to dig for coking coal until 2049, and the mine is expected to create roughly 500 jobs. Chris McDonald, a steel industry expert, estimates the UK will use less than 10% of the output of the mine and by mid 2030s, none. Currently, UK steel makers get almost half their coal from Russia, but after the country’s invasion of Ukraine, the UK pledged to stop using Russian resources. The government’s advisory CCC said that roughly 85% of the coal produced would be exported. This may limit its benefit to the UK.

The UK is meant to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 78% by 2035. In order to reach this target, the steel industry must cut its emissions. The UKCCC says if steel firms don’t stop burning coal by 2035, they will have to use pricey technology to capture the emissions and bury them underground. Bear in mind, the council has granted permission to dig until 2049.

(All quotes from the BBC)

Fighter Jets and Artificial Intelligence

By Kavya

What do UK, Italy, and Japan all have in common? For one, they all have no hope of winning the 2022 World Cup. So, instead of football, they turned to fighter jets.

The three nations have just announced a historic collaboration, the Global Air Combat Program, under which they will develop new fighter jets that not only have advanced sensors and provide stealth, but even use artificial intelligence. The use of AI will mean that the jet could be flown without a pilot’s input and fire hypersonic missiles, which may be necessary in instances where the pilot is incapable of navigating the jet.

PM Sunak said that this partnership will ensure that the UK, Italy, and Japan are “outpacing and outmanoeuvring those who seek to do us harm”. Is Japan worried about increasing activity in the South China Sea? And what about Italy? Who seeks to do them harm? We will have to wait and see.

Will we have a white Christmas?

A white Christmas is officially recorded when snowflakes fall on Christmas day. The last white Christmas London has seen was in 2017, however the chances are seemingly more optimistic this year The Met Office has said they can only accurately forecast if it will snow on Christmas day up to five days before, so we’ll just have to wait and see, but hopefully we’ll have a white Christmas once more!!

Other NATO countries are free to join the partnership, however Germany, France, and Spain already have their own design, as does the United States. The jets developed by the UK, Italy, and Japan will be designed to integrate with the defence programs of other NATO members. The programme is expected to deliver benefits, such as creating jobs, attracting investment in research into digital design, and providing opportunities for the next generation of engineers. It could provide around 21,000 jobs a year in the UK and contribute around £26.2 billion to the British economy (PricewaterhouseCoopers). The programme also signifies a fresh start for Japan, which historically collaborated only with the United States on matters of defence but is now choosing to deepen ties with other allies.

As exciting as an AI-based fighter jet sounds, I never want to see it used, and I hope you do not either

China scraps several severely restricting zero covid strategies

By Sophia

For the past month, China has seen mass protests erupting all over China against their zero-covid policies, the strictest in the world, following the tragic deaths of ten residents in a fire, broke out in high rise block of flats in Urumqi. In last week’s edition, I wrote an article on these mass protests, where you can find more information about what happened. People can now travel freely inside China and tests no longer need to be shown for most venues. Citizens are no longer literally forced to isolate in tiny rooms in quarantine camps with only a wooden bed and toilet for weeks, and they can now isolate at home.

Many issues have been raised over these camps, as even young children, the elderly and pregnant women get separated from their families for weeks and some camps have inadequate levels of staffing and terrible living conditions.

Though most people are happy that the highly restrictive policies they have seen for 3 years are gone, some are raising the question: “Why is the change all of a sudden…" One Chinese social media user says "The medical system will be overwhelmed and many elderly would be infected. It [a major wave of infections] begins now." Experts agree, warning that the easing of these restrictions would have to be done slowly and in

an organised fashion, as to not overwhelm the health care system.

On Wednesday, China's National Health Commissioned announced that:

› Lateral flow tests would replace PCR tests in most scenarios where a result is needed, although PCRs are still needed for schools, hospitals, and nursing homes

› Lockdowns would continue but should only apply to more targeted areas - for example, certain buildings, units, or floors as opposed to whole neighbourhoods or cities being shut down

› Areas identified as "high-risk" should come out of lockdown in five days if no new cases are found. Several cities in China have endured months-long lockdowns, even with only a handful of cases

› Schools can remain open with student attendance if there's no wider campus outbreak

China’s borders remain closed to date, but some analysts say that this rapid easing of restrictions means China’s borders could reopen next year. Unable to visit China for almost six years, I know that I, for one, will be thrilled.

New Harry & Meghan Netflix Series

By Dara

The new Netflix documentary about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex launched this Thursday in the UK. The show focuses on the various challenges the couple face following their departure from the royal family in 2020, as well as providing insight into their personal relationships. Most importantly, it discusses the media’s harsh –and often racist – treatment of Meghan. Harry, who spoke out against his family’s treatment of Meghan in the infamous Oprah interview, continues to do so in the documentary.

In Volume 1 of the series, Harry recounts members of the family describing negative experiences with the media as "a rite of passage" and asking him why Meghan deserved to be treated any different. Harry responds, “The difference here is the race element”. This simple dialogue points to a much wider issue – Meghan’s blackness is either overlooked or overstated by large swathes of the media. Not only do the couple embark on a journey of self-discovery (in relation to race, love, family, and more), but they also talk

about the customs of the royal family and how Meghan was often made to feel like an outsider.

However, the documentary has been criticised for being an over-produced story which depicts a onesided narrative. Netflix knows how to make hit shows and this is evident in some elements of Harry & Meghan. Although presented as a hardhitting exposé by the trailers, Volume 1 of the show does little to answer any of the questions teased prior to the shows release. It cleverly uses cliff-hangers to get people to watch Volume 2, hinting that this will reveal more about the relationship between Harry and William. As a result, some have dubbed the documentary a lastditch attempt for relevancy, focused less on getting the truth out and more on getting good ratings.

Whether you’re a die-hard Harry and Meghan stan or you think they’re master manipulators of the media, Harry and Meghan should be commended for pointing out the racism in Britain on such a large platform.

Trump Found Guilty of Fraud

By Dharshini

The former president Donald Trump, and his company has been found guilty of tax fraud in a courthouse in Manhattan. Found to be a fifteen yearlong scheme, the Trump Organisation has currently only been charged 1.6 million dollars, a miniscule amount for a huge organisation. This brings up the question; has Trump still got America and its judiciary system in his pocket?

After three years of New York prosecutors trying to find any kind of dirt on Trump and his companies, they finally found out that the company was giving out fancy perks for the more senior people in the firm. These included fancy cars, holidays, and private school tuition, but the company never reported or paid taxes for these ‘gifts’. The extra bonuses were given to the bosses to keep them loyal and happy to the company These cases against Trump will add onto the

initial legal setbacks he will have to face when running for president in 2024.

The jury found all 17 accounts of fraud guilty and sentenced Wllen Weisselberg, the CFO of the company, to five months in jail after pleading guilty and testifying against the company. However, the court did not sentence Trump, even though he is the founder and owner of the company. The story that the jury heard was that Trump agreed to giving these extra bonuses ‘on a whim’ but did not realise the consequences of his actions. On the contrary, prosecutor, Joshua Steinglass came out and said that Trump personally looks at and signs his employees bonuses, showing that he was not as ignorant as he claimed. The man trying to run for president (again) dismissed the case as a ‘witch hunt’ most likely sent by the Democrats. So, for Mr Trump, conspiracy theories are his first answer, from climate change to this.

Bound to fallin’ in… trouble: Kanye West Suspended from Twitter After Anti-Semitic Tweets

by Antara

“I tried my best. Despite that, he again violated our rule against incitement to violence. Account will be suspended” – Elon Musk, CEO of Twitter

Kanye West, American rapper, songwriter, record producer and fashion designer was suspended from Twitter last Thursday after he tweeted an image of a Swastika inside the Star of David.

The Swastika, although holding ancient religious significance is now recognised for its appropriation by the Nazi party and neo-Nazis. The Star of David symbolises both the state of Israel and Judaism. Many have interpreted the image as outrightly antisemitic and disrespectful to the Jewish community.

Kanye, who now goes by “Ye” (I don’t know how I feel about this) is no stranger to controversy. Even if we don’t count the time he shamelessly interrupted Taylor Swift’s VMA award victory speech, he has also caused quite the stir politically. He’s right-wing, and a fervent supporter of former president Donald Trump.

Ye was initially locked out of Twitter and Instagram back in October after accusing rapper Diddy of being controlled by Jewish people. This incident came after his decision to wear a t-shirt saying “White Lives Matter” to Paris Fashion Week.

His antisemitic and racist remarks have caused his relationships with companies such as Adidas to suffer. Adidas said that it did “not tolerate antisemitism and any other forms of hate speech” in a statement explaining why it chose to cut ties with him.

Alongside the Swastika tweet, also on Thursday, during an interview with US conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, Ye admitted to listeners that he “liked Hitler”. The rapper said: “I see good things about Hitler … Every human being has something of value that they brought to the table, especially Hitler,” and later: “I love Jewish people. But I also love Nazis.”

The rapper’s comments have angered many across the world. Karen Pollock, the chief executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust said that his tweets and comments were “blatant Jew hate and needs to be called out and stopped. Enough.” Many people have openly criticised Kanye, from US President Joe Biden to David Schwimmer (yes, Ross from Friends – remember the Hanukkah Armadillo?).

Many fear the consequences of having such ideologies endorsed on a profile with such a high following and wide reach. To what extent should free speech be moderated?

Musk has said his ethos with content moderation is: “If in doubt, let the speech exist” and that Twitter would be “forming a content moderation council with widely diverse viewpoints.” He has also reactivated accounts which had been suspended before he became CEO, such as Donald Trump and Representative of Georgia Marjorie Taylor Greene. Musk is an advocator for free speech: “If free speech is lost even in America, tyranny is all that lies ahead,” but it seems this is where he draws the line.

So, it’s clear that Mr West is determined to make his mark on the people by expressing his opinions as raw and as radical as they come, but only time will tell if his views will attract enough attention

Crimea Bridge: How Russia is Rebuilding its Vital Link

By Finn

The Crimean Bridge, also known as the Kerch Bridge, is the longest bridge in Europe, spanning 12 miles over the Kerch Strait which lies between Russia and Crimea. When it was opened in 2018, four years after the illegal annexation of Crimea by Moscow, the Russian media claimed that it was ‘the construction of the century.’ Its building was seen as Putin’s personal project, creating a vital supply link to aid the Russian military effort in Ukraine, but also building and symbolising a new political connection with Crimea.

In early October, a mysterious explosion, the cause of which remains a mystery, damaged a 274-meter stretch of the bridge, killing three people and breaking an important economic link between the countries. The explosion has caused issues in the provision of resources for Russia’s military troops, due to the necessity to resort to limited ferry services. The destruction of a large part of this bridge also led to a major embarrassment for President Vladimir Putin, as the bridge held high importance, functioning as a strategic and a symbolic project.

Security camera footage was released revealing a truck – supposedly from the Russian city Krasnodar – moving across the bridge at the time of explosion. Although close examination of this footage brought forth proof that this truck was entirely unrelated to the explosion, the theory of

the truck bomb was quick to spread through Russian cities. It is suspected that this could be due to the fact that the Kremlin preferred the story of an act of terrorism from within the country to an act of purposeful sabotage by Ukraine.

Repairs to the bridge have now been almost completed, reinstating the connection between the countries, and once again providing the necessary resources for the military. Dr Andrew Barr (a civil and structural engineering researcher) says that ‘the resource prioritisation involved in restoring a military and political asset changes things significantly, especially in a country at war.’

Though the cause of the explosion remains unknown, many theories have been put forward, none of which have been confirmed or denied by Ukraine. The rebuilding of this bridge has renewed its value for Russia as part of the invasion of Ukraine, as the route has proven crucial for supplying goods not only to the civilian population, but also to the naval base at Sevastopol, which is home to Russia’s Black Sea Fleet. The bridge has also become an important way of bringing supplies to Russian forces in southern Ukraine.