Policy Address, Gaza War, And Disarray In The House
Here are some witty memes to mark our times on the 44th week of 2023 featuring source material from Star Trek Lower Decks and Hailey’s On It!
Headline Story - Lee’s Policy Address
On Wednesday, Hong Kong’s Chief Executive John Lee announced his 2023 Policy Address to the public. Before the address, Lee said the theme of the address is building a ‘vibrant economy for a caring community’ and he promised a policy address that belongs to every resident.’ The cover, like last year, is colored in green to show optimism, and senior officials wore green ties and scarves to show team spirit and solidarity with the leader.
The main themes of the speech indicate the city will become more integrated with mainland China and the Greater Bay Area, both politically and economically. While at the same time appealing to more talent from around the world. There are many policies targeting important issues in the city, from the economy to the low fertility rate for the city.
And a fun fact: I participated in the press conference after the address, it was amazing! Check out my observations here:
Headline Story - More News From Gaza
As conditions in Gaza worsen, some warn shortages can “kill many, many people” as news came out from the UN’s Gaza agency, which noted hospitals and aid will run out of fuel in hours. Late Friday (October 20), Hamas released two American prisoners, a 59-year-old American woman, and her teenage daughter were reunited with family members in an Israeli military base weeks after being kidnapped with roughly 200 people on 10/7. Then on Monday, Hamas released two elderly Israeli women, one of them gave testimony to what had happened to her. Adding on to aid carrying trucks entering Gaza through the Egyptian border on Saturday, analysts think these measures were used to delay Israel from engaging in a ground invasion. We are also seeing US involvement in delaying and persuading Israel from engaging in a ground war, as media reports Israeli officials confirmed that Biden’s pressure persuaded Israel to approve the aid trucks to enter Gaza, and on Tuesday Reuters quoted sources that the US had advised Israel to hold off on a Gaza invasion and kept Qatar which is a US ally and Hamas mediator on loop. The New York Times reported the US raising concerns about Israel’s action plan in Gaza and its desired outcomes. By Thursday, news has come out the US is calling for a pause in Israel’s military efforts as the death toll in Gaza mounts, with half of those dead being children. The FT reported Israel is preparing a ground invasion of Gaza and the war cabinet has already agreed on a date to begin the incursion.
In the following days, more aid was transported into the country as hospitals were overwhelmed by injured patients from relentless bombing from Israel. At the same time, as Israel prepares for an inevitable ground invasion, the country plans to sever links with Gaza after a three-phase war, while President Biden suggests increased diplomatic ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia have led to Hamas attacks. President Macron of France met Netanyahu on Tuesday, calling for an anti-IS group international coalition that is currently fighting against allies of ISIS to reach Hamas. At the same time, international condemnation of Israel was also visible this week. The US has seen increased controversy inside college campuses over support for Israel and Palestine, Malaysia’s PM joined thousands in condemning Israel and its Western allies for their “barbarism” in Gaza, and Israel called for the UN Secretary-General António Guterres to resign after he said what happened in 10/7 did not happen in a vacuum.
On Saturday, Axios made a news scoop, reporting the Israeli military obtained a USB that featured instructions for a “cyanide dispersion device” on the body of a Hamas operative who participated in the 10/7 terrorist attack. Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong’s flagship carrier, announced they are canceling any flights between the city and Tel Aviv for the rest of the year due to the conflict on Sunday. Then on Monday, during a testy press conference held by a group of bipartisan senators in Tel Aviv, Sen. Lindsey Graham yelled at a Newsmax reporter after he asked the attendees to criticize Congresswoman Rashida Talib for her remarks over the 10/7 attack.
Check this article by yours truly on Biden’s Middle East Strategy:
Side Story - US-China Charm Offensives
This week, we have seen increased interactions between the US and China coming from both sides. On Monday, the WSJ reported a whirlwind of meetings and events in the upcoming days that will precipitate an expected San Fransisco summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden, the first in-person meeting since last year. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Washington between Thursday to Saturday and will meet President Joe Biden on Friday (October 27). Chinese basketball player Yao Ming joined a delegation of Chinese business, cultural, and sports figures for a series of public engagements in New York.
In the same week, California Governor Gavin Newsom had a one-week visit to China touting the state’s climate policies and negotiating climate agreements, which included cities like Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Beijing. Newsom also met Xi Jinping and high-level officials like Wang Yi. However, bipartisan critics in the US fear it alienates voters in Newsom’s home state and risks whitewashing China’s negative issues like human rights. On Tuesday, an economic working group between the two countries conducted its first remote meeting, which covered macroeconomic situations and policies of the two countries and the world, bilateral economic relations, and cooperation in responding to global challenges based on a statement from the Chinese side.
Side Story - Republicans In Disarray
This week, Donald Trump is in so much more legal jeopardy. After his former lawyer Sidney Powell pled guilty to charges in the Georgia case on Thursday (19/10), another former lawyer named Kenneth Cheesebro also flipped on Trump the following day (20/10). Trump’s other lawyer, Jenna Ellis, also made a guilty plea on Tuesday (24/10). This means, as part of their plea deals, they will be testifying against other co-defendants of the case, possibly including Trump, as well as handing in text messages and emails which can further incriminate Trump.
Donald Trump is also threatened with imprisonment after having to pay a $5,000 fine as punishment for breaking his gag order in the New York civil case relating to his businesses. He posted an abusive post on his social media platform Truth Social, which falsely accused an aide to the judge of being Chuck Schumer’s girlfriend above a photo of a selfie that featured the aide and Schumer. On Wednesday, Trump violated his gag order for a second time after he claimed the judge was partisan outside of the court, and was fined with $10,000. In addition, Trump is forced to see his former fixer and lawyer Michael Cohen testify in his fraud trial case, which provided damning evidence of the former president’s business misconduct over the years. ABC News reported on Tuesday his ex-chief of Staff Mark Meadows granted immunity and has told special counsel Jack Smith he warned Trump about his 2020 claims.
Over in 60 Minutes Australia, the news program revealed tapes of the Australian billionaire Anthony Pratt retelling stories of Trump leaking top secret information to him when the former president was the acting president. The tapes include allegations of Trump revealing phone calls with world leaders like those from Iraq and Ukraine with Pratt, to Trump telling his wife Melania to strut around in a bikini.
While in the House GOP, after Jim Jordan unsurprisingly lost the third ballot to become Speaker, a secret ballot was held within the GOP and the party voted anonymously to oust Jordan from being a candidate in the Speaker race. This means the GOP’s House Speaker selection process was back to square one, just like what happened in January which was already embarrassing for the Republican party as it took 15 rounds to elect a Speaker. Then over the weekend, the House GOP announced nine candidates vying for nomination before the Sunday deadline declaring their intention. This included Jack Bergman of Michigan, Byron Donalds of Florida, Tom Emmer of Minnesota, Kevin Hern of Oklahoma, Mike Johnson of Louisiana, Dan Meuser of Pennsylvania, Gary Palmer of Alabama, Austin Scott of Georgia, and Pete Sessions of Texas. On Tuesday, Tom Emmer became the last man standing, then hilariously dropping out of the race hours later. After that, the Republicans nominated Mike Johnson for Speaker on Tuesday night. Despite being an election denier in the aftermath of the 2020 election, Johnson officially became House Speaker on Wednesday after getting 220 votes in the House, ending three weeks of political mayhem. As the chaos rumbles on, the consequences of the Speaker fight are getting worse, as Biden requests $105 billion in aid to Ukraine and Israel, they cannot get passed as long as there is no Speaker.
Side Story - Global Election Updates
On Sunday, Argentina had a general election which surprised many. The ruling Peronist coalition and the coalition’s candidate Economy Minister Sergio Massa won 36% of the vote, followed by 30% for the far-right libertarian radical Javier Milei. Many polls before the election predicted a Milei win, but now things will end up in a run-off election next month which many observers predict will be extremely polarizing to an economically turbulent nation.
While in the UK, the Labour Party won two by-elections in Tamworth and Mid Bedfordshire after their respective MPs resigned over two different Tory party scandals and hijinks. The Labour Party was able to convert the two seats that had a significant Tory majority in past elections and flip them in a shock to the Conservative Party and its leadership. This shows the leader of the Labour party Sir Keir Starmer is on track for a potential general election victory, but more is on the way before he can move into Number 10 and become Prime Minister.
For Switzerland, Sunday’s recent parliamentary elections saw a victory for the country’s far-right, as voters abandoned green policies and issues like immigration gained more concern from voters.
More Memeified News
Headline Recap
HKFP: Hong Kong court rules in favour of same-sex couples’ equal inheritance rights following gov’t appeal
CNN: Iceland's prime minister joins thousands of women on strike | CNN
NPR: Japan Supreme Court hands down a landmark transgender rights decision : NPR
Reuters: Exclusive: US Army charges Private Travis King with desertion over dash into North Korea | Reuters
Politico: White House AI order to flex federal buying power
CNBC: Meta sued by 42 attorneys general alleging Facebook, Instagram features are addictive, target kids
Quartz: Apple supplier Foxconn subjected to tax inspections by Chinese authorities
WaPo: Ukrainian spies with deep ties to CIA wage shadow war against Russia - The Washington Post
Reuters: Ford, UAW negotiators reach tentative labor deal - sources
Guardian: Turkey’s president submits bill to ratify Sweden’s Nato membership
Bloomberg: China Removes Li Shangfu as Defense Minister, CCTV Reports - Bloomberg
SCMP: China’s ex-foreign minister Qin Gang stripped of last remaining state title
Nat Geo: The moon is even older than we thought
Atlantic: Bad Bunny Made 'SNL' Bilingual - The Atlantic
Verge: The Problem With Jon Stewart ending over AI and China coverage - The Verge
AP: Biden orders flags at half-staff to honor victims of Lewiston, Maine, shooting | AP News
Long Read Recommendations
FT: Biden’s vast diplomatic challenge in the Middle East
NBC: 'I will never vote Biden': Some Muslim Americans in a key swing state feel betrayed by the president
Foreign Affairs: What Friends Owe Friends: Why Washington Should Restrain Israeli Military Action in Gaza—and Preserve a Path to Peace
Bulwark: Joe Biden Has a Problem with the Left - by Charlie Sykes
NYT: George Santos Swore He’d Never Talk to Me. Then the Phone Rang. - The New York Times
Steve Schmidt: Steve Schmidt reacts to Joe Biden's powerful speech in defense of freedom & democracy | The Warning
Daily Beast: Meet Phil Williams, ‘Nashville’s Nosiest Bitch’ Who Broke Gabrielle Hanson Story
Bulwark: Voters Are Unreliable Narrators - by Jonathan V. Last
NYT: New SAT Data Highlights the Deep Inequality at the Heart of American Education - The New York Times
Atlantic: How the Media Got the Hospital Explosion Wrong
New Yorker: China’s Age of Malaise | The New Yorker
NYT: Pick a Side. Pick a Side. Pick a Side. Now. | NYT Opinion