11/16/2022

China and the US Are Back On

After a three-hour convo at the G20 Summit 2022, China and the US are back in business. Developing a healthy, stable relationship between both countries will debatably be better for everyone— especially the planet— as they resume negotiations about climate change, war in Ukraine, and more. This is Indonesia’s first time hosting the G20 Summit bringing together leaders of 20 countries that hold over 75% of global trade and 80% of global GDP. And they spent $35M preparing for a moment that not only reunited China with the US, but also gave British PM Rishi Sunak his first world stage appearance. Russian President Putin was absent, as most leaders have condemned the war in Ukraine. The meeting is supposed to conclude with a joint statement of action but with non binding declarations, and climate change targets woefully unmet, many are left asking how effective the G20 really is.

11/16/2022

China and the US Are Back On

After a three-hour convo at the G20 Summit 2022, China and the US are back in business. Developing a healthy, stable relationship between both countries will debatably be better for everyone— especially the planet— as they resume negotiations about climate change, war in Ukraine, and more. This is Indonesia’s first time hosting the G20 Summit bringing together leaders of 20 countries that hold over 75% of global trade and 80% of global GDP. And they spent $35M preparing for a moment that not only reunited China with the US, but also gave British PM Rishi Sunak his first world stage appearance. Russian President Putin was absent, as most leaders have condemned the war in Ukraine. The meeting is supposed to conclude with a joint statement of action but with non binding declarations, and climate change targets woefully unmet, many are left asking how effective the G20 really is.

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After 10 Years In Hiding, Salman Rushdie Stabbed On Stage

Salman Rushdie, author of ‘The Satanic Verses and ‘Midnight’s Children’’, is fighting life-changing injuries to his heart, liver, and eyes after being repeatedly stabbed on-stage while giving a lecture. While the suspect, 24-year-old Hadi Matar, was just indicted by a grand jury on Thursday August 18, he told the New York Post that his motivation came from Rushdie’sattacks on Islam and its beliefs. Rushdie’s controversial 1988 novel left Muslims feeling outraged and that the book’s author was claiming verses of the Qur’an were “the work of the Devil”. ‘Satanic Verses’ is a phrase unknown to Muslims, and coined by Orientalist Western academics who were specializing in the study of cultures considered Eastern. Rushdie’s title immediately sparked protest because it refers to a legend about Prophet Muhammad that both Sunni and Shiite Muslims believe are fabricated by idolators. Rushdie’s book was also considered offensive because it portrayed weakness in the Prophet Muhammad, and Muslims felt that Rushdie was questioning Muhammad’s credibility as the messenger of God. The book was banned in many parts of the world, including Iran, India and Pakistan, and former Iranian leader Ayatollah Khomeini even issued a fatwa - or decree - calling for his death. Though the Iranian government has since separated itself from the fatwa, the price on Rushdie’s head recently increased to over $3M. For nearly a decade, the award-winning author went into hiding and lived under police protection, though in recent years became more lax about this, even venturing outside without bodyguard protection at times. Now, the outspoken defender of writers’ freedom of expression is living openly in New York, and once again at the center of free speech debate in literature.

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China and the US Are Back On