Newspin: Balancing the News (UK)

News for Dec 01, 2022

The news is so noisy. An endless slew of stories pulling you every which way. Here's Newspin, with some noise-cancelling analysis!

JK Rowling sends crate of champagne to Nicola Sturgeon heckler -- The Telegraph

JK Rowling has sent a crate of champagne to a feminist protester who heckled Nicola Sturgeon at a charity event where attendees had been told not discuss the definition of a woman

Outline: (what is this?) nicola sturgeon heckler jk rowling

Tone: (what is this?) ++ v. positive

Discussion: (what is this?) + Sturgeon, ++ Jk, - Scotland

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex faced "disgusting and very real threats", says London's Met police -- BBC News (UK)

Neil Basu said he would understand if Meghan had felt "under threat all of the time" He said people have been prosecuted over the threats to the Duchess of Sussex; Mr Basu is Britain's most senior officer of colour and was in charge of royal protection

Outline:  genuine threats

Tone:  - negative

Discussion:  -- US, ± Harry, - Meghan

Jacinda Ardern and Sanna Marin dismiss suggestion their age and gender was reason for meeting -- The Guardian

Finland’s PM says she met Ardern in New Zealand because they are both ‘prime ministers’ after journalist asked whether it was due to similar age and gender

Outline:  jacinda ardern

Tone:  ++ v. positive

Discussion:  ? David Cameron, ? Barack Obama, ? New Zealand

Twitter ends Covid-misinformation policy, under Musk -- BBC News (UK)

Twitter says it has stopped enforcing its Covid policy on misleading information about coronavirus; Twitter had previously reported suspending more than 11,000 accounts for Covid misinformation as of September

Outline:  twitter

Tone:  ± mixed

Discussion:  - BBC, - covid, ++ Twitter

The Papers -- BBC News (UK)

Thursday's i: UK playing with fire after Covid jabs U-turn, warn scientists

Outline:  covid

Tone:  - negative

Discussion:  ? UK, ? Covid, ? Britain

Girls Aloud: It's 20 years since pop greats were born on Popstars The Rivals -- BBC News (UK)

Cheryl Tweedy, Nicola Roberts, Nadine Coyle, Kimberley Walsh and Sarah Harding formed Girls Aloud in 2002; The band broke the pop mould and scored more hit singles than any other girl group in UK chart history

Outline:  girls aloud

Tone:  ++ v. positive

Discussion:  ++ Sarah, ? Christiaan, ? BBC

Fleetwood Macs Christine McVie dies at age 79 -- The Guardian

Family say the musician, who was in one of the best-known rock bands of the 1970s and 80s, died after a short illness; Fleetwood Mac paid tribute to the singer-songwriter McVie in a statement on Wednesday night

Outline:  fleetwood macs christine mcvie

Tone:  ± mixed

Discussion:  ? Fleetwood, ? youtube, ? Brum

Harry Styles had the most-streamed song of 2022 -- BBC News (UK)

Harry Styles' As It Was named the UK's most-streamed song of 2022; Spotify, Apple Music and Deezer all said it was their top performer of the year

Outline:  spotify

Tone:  ++ v. positive

Discussion:  ? Spotify, ? Trevor Francis, ? Harry Styles

Love Actually director Richard Curtis uncomfortable with movie's lack of diversity -- BBC News (UK)

Love Actually director Richard Curtis admits movie's lack of diversity makes him feel "a bit stupid"

Outline:  love actually director richard curtis

Tone:  ± mixed

Discussion:  ++ Richard Curtis, -- UK, ++ Christmas

Why Love Actually is not the heartwarming romcom youre remembering -- The Independent

This festive romcom is outdated and treats women like pawns in a male fantasy

Outline:  festive romcom

Tone:  + positive

Discussion:  ? Richard Curtis, ? Guardian, ? Tick tock

Kanye West to pay Kim Kardashian $200,000 per month in child support as divorce settled -- BBC News (UK)

Kanye West ordered to pay $200,000 per month in child support in divorce settlement; Couple will share joint custody of their four children, according to court documents

Outline:  child support

Tone:  + positive

Discussion:  ++ Kanye, ++ Kim, ? uk

FTX billionaire Sam Bankman-Fried funneled dark money to Republicans -- The Guardian

Sam Bankman-Fried was thought to be a big donor to Democrats; But he now says he gave equally large amounts of money to Republicans

Outline:  ftx billionaire sam bankman

Tone:  + positive

Discussion:  -- Democrats, ? SBF, ? The Guardian

Why Nigel Farage is wrong about London being "minority white" -- BBC News (UK)

Mr Farage is wrong in most of this claim; The census is a huge exercise carried out every 10 years by the Office for National Statistics

Outline:  uk population

Tone:  - negative

Discussion:  ++ London, -- Farage, -- BBC

Lady Susan Hussey quits over remarks to charity boss Ngozi Fulani -- BBC News (UK)

Buckingham Palace staff member resigns over comments to charity boss

Outline:  charity boss ngozi fulani buckingham palace staff member

Tone:  - negative

Discussion:  ++ London, -- UK, -- Africa

French baguette gets Unesco heritage status -- BBC News (UK)

"It celebrates the French way of life" French baguette gets Unesco World Heritage status

Outline:  french baguette

Tone:  + positive

Discussion:  ? Europe, ? UK, ? Tiger Bread

Tell us: have you developed a habit that has improved your life? -- The Guardian

Have you developed a small habit that has improved your life; We would like to hear about a tiny tweak that that has made a positive difference to the way you live

Outline:  small habit

Tone:  ++ v. positive

Discussion:  ? Guardian, ? UK, ? Brexit

David, a single dad with a teenage son, has been served a no-fault eviction notice. Because the housing benefit he receives is far lower than local rent prices, David faces homelessness -- ITV News

Outline:  homelessness

Tone:  - negative

Discussion:  ? Britain, ? Yer, ? France

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