May News

Stories of the week 10 February

This week the Brexit battle ground opened up with some retaliation from the EU after a couple of years of UK taunts. With May returning yet again to try and open negotiations despite the EU being clear that this was not an option, Donald Tusk pointed out what seems to be the simple truth that ‘there’s a special place in hell’ for those who promoted Brexit without a plan. And look where we are now…still no plan.

The Press were also quick to point out the Government’s other failings in creating this Brexit chaos. The UK is bullying developing countries into unfair trade deals. The benefit system and Government deceit is the real hell. We are being conned by lies, pantomime and half-truths were just some of the failings.

Brexit didn’t look any better on the wider stage with the potential for UK exports to be locked out of harbours around the word. The US will side with Ireland over No Deal and Europe and, in the ultimate insult to May, Europe says Jeremy Corbyn’s solution is the best.

Rumours of a fantasy No Deal Dunkirk Brexit spirit were finally ground into the dust with Nissan hinting that even a Government bribe of £60m wasn’t enough to keep them in No Deal Britain. The biggest free trade deal in history was signed between Europe and Japan, putting the final nail into the UK car industry’s coffin. Japan will move production to mainland Europe and have a zero tariff within seven years in any case.

But all is not lost for Brexiteers. Apparently, if Brexit is delayed by even a millisecond thousands of Tory voters will leave the sinking ship and join Nigel Farage’s new Brexit Party. Hurrah.

In another shockingly appalling Government failure, the Windrush hardship fund had only helped one single person by the end of 2018. An absolute disgrace and so much for the Government denying ‘the hostile environment’.

Donald Trump continues to focus on Venezuela with threats of troops as well as aid. Europe has been thrown into disarray over whether to side with Trump on this or not. In the meantime, Maduro is convinced this is a ‘gringo’ plot to overthrow the revolution.

Environment

The Met Office have predicted global warming could exceed the dreaded 1.5C target within five years. We have already reached a melting point where the dissolving ice sheets will cause climate chaos.

This week saw the great tech rip-off. Cryptocurrency investors became locked out of $190m after exchange founder dies with the password.

Stories of the week 10 December

This week Brexit kept on ramping up to full frenzy.

The Government lost three crucial votes and was found in contempt of Parliament. They duly published the Brexit legal advice.

This, in turn, created a storm over the sticky Northern Irish border question and the dreaded back stop.

In the face of this extraordinary shambles, there is talk of the EU agreeing to extend Article 50 to give the UK more time to sort it out.

The Press were spectacularly divided on the Brexit way forward and what was going to happen next. One thing that did unite them was that Prime Minister May must go.

In alarming news this week, the Press once again focussed on right wing extremism. It seems there is a hidden network linking US billionaires, right wing Australians and Russian trolls to British Far right Activist, Tommy Robinson.

Environment

Sir David Attenborough issued a dire warning on climate change, stating the end of civilisation is in sight unless World Leaders act right now.

To support Sir David’s point and in what was described as ‘brutal news’, carbon emissions jumped to an all-time high in 2018.

With allegations against Tommy Robinson and a right wing network coming to light, there was more alarming news when a British neo-Nazi group called Prince Harry ‘a race traitor for marrying Meghan Markle.

Chinese media accused the US of ‘hooliganism’ this week after the arrest of Meng Wanzhou, the Chief Financial Officer of giant Chinese tech company Huawei. Huawei has been accused of violating US sanctions on Iran and Meng Wanzhou has been arrested in Canada for extradition to the US. Markets plummeted around the world.

Middle East

A ‘Khashoggi Way’ road sign appeared outside the Saudi Arabian embassy in Washington this week as the dreadful story continued. The Senate ignored Donald Trump and Theresa May was accused of double-standards by publicly supporting sanctions whilst privately talking about more arms sales.

Last week, NASA’s incredible Mars InSight probe touched down on the planet. This week amazing history was made when InSight sent back the sound of Mars for humanity to hear. Scientists were amazed to hear Martian wind.

Stories of the week 2 December

This week had some potentially explosive news in more ways than one.

First off the block, Russia seized Ukrainian ships in what Ukraine considered to be a precursor to all-out war. In preparation , Ukraine implemented martial law in certain regions.

The migrant caravan arrived at US Border at long last amid reports of appalling conditions. The situation became extreme when US Border officials fired tear gas into crowds of women and children.

Middle East

The repercussions of the appalling Khashoggi murder continued to rumble around the world this week. President Trump changed his mind to support the Saudi regime while edgy world leaders at the G20 meeting came face-to-face with the Crown Prince.

Brexit had a frenzy of stories from a lot of different angles this week.

The terrifying picture of a No-Deal Brexit once again was framed this week by the Press and the usual disclaimers of ‘Project Fear’ followed. No-Deal was seen as being worse than the 1930s crash.

The Government went against the will of Parliament and refused to publish the full legal advice surrounding the Brexit Deal in a direct attack on democracy.

Despite denying the people a vote, Theresa May is happy to talk the people about her deal even though they are powerless to do anything to change it. The TV debate has all sides wanting to be represented but it seems the very artificial debate will now just be May and Corbyn.

Follow this link for some fascinating reading as you can see what all sides of the press think of the Brexit deal and reveal exactly where they stand.

On what promises to be a very miserable Christmas for many, the use of foodbanks is unhappily set to break recently broken records.

Out of desperation and need, a group of mothers is taking the Government to court over their broken Universal Credit system. The claim is that the system infringes their human rights and ability to work,

Environment

In bad news for the planet, after his own administration delivered an apocalyptic report on climate change Donald Trump refused to believe it much to the world’s surprise.

NASA’s InSight probe reached the end of its journey this week and managed to survive a seven-minute violently turbulent descent onto the surface of Mars. The InSight probe will dig down into the red planet in a search for signs of life.