⏳ Friday Fix: A Divided Legacy

Morning all,

A complex legacy, another fatality, a further escalation of tensions, and a "growing fear" climate targets won't be met.

Until tomorrow,

Your Fixers

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Here's a podcast version of today's newsletter.

 A DIVIDED LEGACY

South Africa's last apartheid president, FW de Klerk, died Thursday at the age of 85.

People are very divided about him. De Klerk came to power in 1989, while the country's racist system was ongoing - a system he once firmly supported. However, by the early 1990s he made changes that ultimately led to the release of Nelson Mandela from prison, and brought about the end of apartheid. Some say he was very brave to bring about that change at the time, others consider him a political opportunist.

Following his death, a recent video of him was released, where he once again apologised for his previous support of apartheid.  

"I, without qualification, apologise for the pain and the hurt and the indignity and the damage that apartheid has done to black, brown and Indians in South Africa." - FW de Klerk

What was apartheid? Between 1948 and 1991, there was a formal system of apartheid in South Africa, where segregation between black and white people led to a deeply divided society. White people had access to the best facilities, education etc, and marriage between a black and white person was illegal.  

A 22-year-old attendee of the Astroworld festival in Texas last weekend died of her injuries on Thursday, bringing the current death toll to nine.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, all those who died at the concert were between the ages of 14 and 27. A nine-year-old boy remains in a medically induced coma. Rapper Travis Scott is now facing a lengthy number of lawsuits, as the fallout over how the event was conducted continues.

OTHER QUICK UPDATES

Tensions continue to escalate between Belarus and the EU over the thousands of migrants stranded at the Belarus side of its border with Poland.

Remember: The EU accused Belarusian president, Alexander Lukashenko, of orchestrating the crisis. The EU have threatened further sanctions on Belarus in response.

What's new? Lukashenko is now threatening to cut gas supplies to the EU if they do impose further sanctions.  

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Julian Assange and his partner have been granted permission to get married in Belmarsh prison, where he has been since April 2019.

The pair were in a secret relationship for years, and even had two children together while he spent years claiming refuge in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London.

The Queen will attend a Remembrance Sunday service this weekend, after taking a couple of weeks off from official duties to rest.

ON TODAY'S AGENDA...

Another round of talks between the UK and EU over the Northern Ireland Protocol are set to take place in London today.

Despite the European Union offering to make changes to the protocol, the UK Government wants further adjustments to be made. In recent days, both the EU and the Irish government have expressed concerns the British government might trigger Article 16 - which would suspend parts of the protocol.

We'll keep an eye on this one...

CLIMATE COVERAGE

After two weeks, the COP26 climate change conference comes to end later today.

Below are a list of some of the achievements from the summit leaders will point to;

• A commitment to reduce methane emissions by 30% by 2030
• A surprise cooperation agreement between China and the US to work together on tackling climate change
• A commitment from more than 40 countries to quit coal
• An agreement between 110 countries - who represent 85% of the world's forest - to end deforestation by 2030

Keeping an eye... to see if negotiators can strengthen the declaration of commitments from countries to tackle climate change and global warming. BBC News reported there is a "fear of failure" that  the target of limiting global warming to 1.5C won't be met.

PANDEMIC

• Ireland's NPHET has advised that people work from home again where possible.
• Austria is reportedly 'days away' from introducing a lockdown for those who are unvaccinated. According to Reuters, about 65% of the country's adult population is fully vaccinated, but daily case rates are at a "record high".

MEDIA MATTERS

There are multiple reports TV presenter Eamonn Holmes is set to leave ITV's This Morning, and present his own show on GB News.

There is yet to be an official confirmation of this, but a GB News presenter tweeted she is "so looking forward" to working with him.  

Holmes and his wife, Ruth Langsford, had a presenting role on This Morning for 15 years.

MOST READ

• BBC News: Activists deflate tyres on 'luxury' cars in Glasgow
• The Guardian: Bansky artwork deliberately destroyed by Christopher Walken in BBC comedy show finale
• The Financial Times: Arcane, hereditary, all-male - and at the heart of British democracy
• Al Jazeera: Ethiopia gov't outlines terms for possible Tigray ceasefire talks
• The Irish Times: Tax avoidance: focus may move from companies to individuals

ON A LIGHTER NOTE...

 Behind the scenes at our TikTok strategy meetings.

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