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100 Up For Roger Federer: Is He The Greatest Ever?

Fergus Macphee
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100 Up For Roger Federer: Is He The Greatest Ever?
The Swiss tennis legend won his 100th ATP men’s singles title in Dubai on Saturday, becoming only the second man in history to reach the milestone.

Eighteen years after his first ATP tournament victory in 2001, Roger Federer has edged closer to Jimmy Connors all-time record of 109. At 37, it is unlikely that Federer will have too many opportunities to overtake Connors in the standings, but his achievement should not be underestimated. In winning the Dubai Tennis Championships on Saturday, he moved six clear of Ivan Lendl in third, 10 ahead of Rafael Nadal and 27 in front of current world no.1 Novak Djokovic. When you compare the level of prestige in the titles won between Federer and Connors, the feat becomes even more impressive. Connors’ eight Grand Slams are dwarfed by Federer’s 20; a record for men’s singles tennis.

Now very much in the twilight of his outstanding career, it seemed fitting that Federer should win this title against a player just beginning to form their own. Stefanos Tsitsipas, the 20-year-old Greek challenger is already seen as a star of the future, after a brilliant year in which he reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open. It was very much a case of master vs apprentice on Saturday though, with Federer recording a straight sets 6-4 6-4 victory. A win for Tsitsipas could have brought things full-circle, with Federer’s first ATP title coming when he was just 19. Here are some of the greatest moments from his illustrious career since that moment.

That final (Wimbledon 2008)

Ironically, arguably the most memorable moment of Federer’s career is a final that he didn’t even win. Considered by many to be the greatest tennis match of all time, this was the day that someone finally put a stop to Federer’s dominance at SW19. Played over 5 sets; 4 hours, 48 minutes of play and numerous rain delays, it was a true epic. The third final in a row between Federer and Nadal, it represented much more than just one match. This was the highest point of an enduring rivalry between two of the sports’ greatest competitors. Such was the spectacle, that by the end of play it didn’t really matter to neutrals who the eventual victor was. Both players were champions, but Nadal was overwhelmed in victory and Federer typically graceful in defeat. The post match interviews with both players said all there is to know.


“I must congratulate Roger, he’s still the No1, he’s still the best, and he’s won five times here. But now I have one, and that’s very important to me.”

Rafael Nadal. Source: The Guardian


“I tried everything, but Rafa’s a deserving champion, he’s the worst opponent on the best court.”

Roger Federer. Source: The Guardian

If anyone thought this signalled the end of Federer’s dominance in world tennis, they were to be proved wrong just one year later.

Clay day
Source: TennisworldUSA

It’s rare for Federer to lose his cool on court, but this was the scene at the 2009 French Open final, when he broke down due to sheer relief after clinching victory. His first and still only French Open win, on his unfavoured playing surface was down to a mixture of fortune and determination. Nadal’s shock early exit to eventual runner-up Robin Soderling, handed Federer a route to the title that had long alluded him. In winning that day, he not only overcame this mental hurdle, but he also equalled Pete Sampras’ all-time record of Grand Slam wins and finally won the coveted ‘Grand Slam’; all four of tennis’ premier achievements. By winning the French Open and subsequent ‘Grand Slam’, Federer could now be definitively talked about in the upper echelons of tennis greats.

How does he do that?

Becoming almost a trademark of his game, whenever he pulls this shot off, everyone in the stadium is left with the same question. How? Nicknamed ‘the tweener’, it’s a trick-shot commonly seen in tennis, but few have been able to use it consistently as a winner like Federer does. First coming to international attention against Djokovic at the 2009 US Open, Federer was still using the move against Tsitsipas at the Australian Open in January. Typical of a player who has always played with such freedom throughout his career, sometimes as a spectator you just have to watch and admire.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IUOewKwrKw

The comeback

Source: Sbnation.com

While obviously still playing and still dreaming of reaching the 2020 Olympics (where he would be on the eve of his 39th birthday) many thought Federer was ‘finished’ long before this year. Having not recorded a Grand Slam final victory since 2012, even the most die hard Fed-head could have been forgiven for not expecting any wins in 2017. Well, those expectations were well and truly dashed at the Australian open, where he beat old rival Nadal in another five set final to record his first Grand Slam title in close to five years. The evergreen 35-year-old then followed this up later in the year with an eighth Wimbledon win, before successfully defending his crown in Australia again in 2018.

Watching the veteran during this period; still winning tournaments by gliding across court in his trademark style felt almost like a Hollywood film where the old-pro comes out of retirement for one last hurrah. It was simply a joy to behold as a spectator. Now, with this 100th victory, long may it continue.

Transwomen Competing In Sporting Events?

Shaun Flores
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Transwomen Competing In Sporting Events?

The world has been taken by a transgender storm in the form of former tennis star and Wimbledon winner Martina Navratilova, who retired with 18 major singles titles. Navratilova came out as a lesbian in 1981, and recently wrote an op-ed page opinion article in the Sunday Times.

“A man can decide to be female, take hormones if required by whatever sporting organization is concerned, win everything in sight and perhaps earn a fortune, and then reverse his decision and go back to making babies if he desires. It’s insane and it’s cheating.”- She writes in the article

Ms Navratilova, part of the LGBTQ community, has brought the unprecedented label of “transphobic”. Surely she would be an ally of the trans struggle.

Navartilova has since apologised for her comments. Have her comments brought forward a much-needed debate?

American Trans Athletes

In 2018 Terry Miller and Andraya Yearwood, black transwomen and student athletes, both 16 years old, opened up the same debate.

They both competed on the girls’ track and field teams at their high schools, and their state championship glory triggered a debate in their community. They have dominated competitions although they consume female hormones to reduce their testosterone.

Parents of other competitors were outraged as they felt it was an unfair advantage on young females who are born in the gender they identify with.

Caster Semenya

Olympic gold medal 800m winner Caster Semenya

 Caster Semenya was born a woman, but she has higher testorone levels than ordinary female athletes. Caster Semenya is powerfully built, likened to that of a man and has dominated the 800m track event, but she has been subject to a comparison likened to the trans argument. Yet she was born a female, unlike the transwomen who want to compete in women’s sport.

Puberty is known as the “process of physical changes through which a child’s body matures into an adult body capable of sexual reproduction. It is initiated by hormonal signals from the brain to the gonads: the ovaries in a girl, the testes in a boy”. Transwomen who have been through the puberty process are even stronger, faster and broader, than those who have not gone through puberty.

Even the lung capacity of men is larger than that of a woman. They hold still the biological advantage of men. Hormone treatment does not reduce this advantage. However, Semenya has testosterone levels three times higher than the average women due to hyperandrogenism.

Hyperandrogenism is when the female body has high levels of male sex hormones such as testosterone. It causes acne, seborrhea (inflamed skin), hair loss on the scalp, increased body hair, masculine appearance, menstrual irregularities, a deeper voice and increased sex drive.

Due to this Semenya also has no womb or ovaries, instead, she has internal testes because of a chromosomal abnormality. Identifying as a woman, this is argued as she could be classed as “intersex”. However many biologically born women call for her exclusion as it provides an unfair disadvantage, whilst trans call for her inclusion.

Caster Semenya could not choose her biological make up, the trans community have.

Why is there not a trans games?

The solution is simple, men and women have a separate games in respect to sports. The only time men and women mix is in mixed doubles tennis. Could we have a mixed doubles in other sports that includes trans athletes?

The other side argues that inclusivity is simple irrespective of biological differences. It is deeply transphobic to not allow trans men or trans women to take part in the sport category that they identify with.
Sport has been victim to unfair disadvantage such as: Height in basketball, geographical location, resources invested into athletes and even pphysiological components such as long legs, small torsos. so what difference will trans athletes make to sport that is inherently disadvantageous to some and advantageous to many?

Trans women and trans men should have their own games which would be curated by the LGBTQ community, this allows for a greater sense of authenticity, responsibility and accuracy in their own narrative. Why want to be included where you biologically do not fit in? Or should we only let those trans who have not gone through hormone therapy or puberty be allowed to compete? Or is this bioligically transphobic?

Let the women and men compete in their biological categories and trans women and trans men compete in a trans games celebrating their gender identity and sporting achievements.


Non-Disclosure Agreements to be Banned Under New Government Proposals

Timi Awoniyi
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Non-Disclosure Agreements to be Banned Under New Government Proposals

Kelly Tolhurst, the Minister for Small Business, Consumers and Corporate Responsibility, has announced proposals to ban the use of non-disclosure agreements (NDA’s) by employers to cover up allegations of bullying, sexual harassment and racism in the workplace.

This follows on from several high-profile scandals in 2018, in which NDA’s were found to have been used unethically.

Phillip Green, chairman of the Arcadia Group which is owned by Tina Green and houses Topshop, Topman and Miss Selfridge, has allegedly used NDAs to cover up allegations of bullying and sexual assault by former employees.

Harvey Weinstein was also revealed to have used an NDA to cover up allegations that he attempted to rape one of his assistants. This NDA prevented the assistant in question from seeking therapy or legal advice, as it forbade the assistant from talking to medical practitioners and legal representatives if they also signed NDAs related to the allegations.

Kelly Tolhurst expressed concern that “non-disclosure agreements have been used to hide workplace harassment and discrimination, or to intimidate victims into silence. That is clearly unacceptable.”

She detailed the governments plan, stating that “the government will be consulting on measures to improve the regulation of non-disclosure agreements, including how best to ensure that workers understand their rights when they have signed a non-disclosure agreement.”

She did acknowledge that NDAs have legitimate uses in the workplace, as they have “legitimate use in the protection of trade secrets and when a settlement has been reached.”

Many organisations use NDAs to protect confidential information. The government recently came under fire, as they admitted to using NDA’s to keep their no deal planning a confidential matter. This was fresh off the heels of Theresa May condemning NDAs as unethical.

Proposals to limit the use of NDAs are likely to come under fire, as this will limit the bargaining power that employees have when confronted with workplace tensions. One who wishes to seek compensation for harassment in the workplace will be unable to do so through the use of confidentiality agreements, and will likely have to go through more formal methods of workplace dispute such as mediation and arbitration. This could potentially elongate the time spent to reach an adequate conclusion, therefore causing further distress to the employee.

TCS Sports Premier League Weekend Recap

Common Sense Contributors
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TCS Sports Premier League Weekend Recap

It was an exciting weekend of games in the Premier League. We bring you a recap of all the big action and prepare you for what’s coming next!

North London Derby

Tottenham hosted Arsenal on Saturday, with the Gunners looking more at home showing a dominating display early on, culminating in an Aaron Ramsey goal within 15 minutes. The game was fairly even thereafter with both teams seeing chances, but a resolute Arsenal defence was broken by a carelessly given away penalty. Harry Kane effortlessly placed his shot in the bottom right corner of the goal, sending Leno the other way and bringing Tottenham level.

The ascent of Tottenham in recent years has made this fixture more entertaining and closer than ever, but despite finishing above Arsenal in the last couple of seasons, Spurs have had few comfortable victories over their rivals. History was about to repeat itself after a penalty was rewarded to Arsenal one minute into stoppage time. A comfortable save by Lloris from a poor and predictable Aubameyang penalty ended the game at 1-1.


  • Source: BBC Sport

Merseyside Derby

Coming into the clash with a game in hand, it was crucial for Liverpool to get all three points to regain their spot at the top of the league. Mid-table Everton looked to close the gap between themselves and 9th place West Ham who after a torrid start to the season under Pellegrini, would be glad they kept faith.

A staltemate of 0-0 was a fair result for both teams as the Reds failed to be clinical in the final third. The best chance of the game fell to Liverpool in the 28th minute as Fabinho, with an easy pass, set Salah through on goal. Only brilliant goalkeeping from England hero, Jordan Pickford, maintained the deadlock . Liverpool will be disappointed to not take more from the game with their fate now in Man City’s hands. Evertonians will be more than happy about their takeaways from the game and will be thankful that their out-of-form players did not cost them at the expense of seeing their greatest rival strengthen their claim for the Premier League title.

Current Premier League standings. Source: The Premier League

Fergie Time Returns at Old Trafford

Manchester United entertained Southampton at Old Trafford on Saturday following a 3-1 win at Selhurst Park last week. Southampton drew blood first in the 26th minute with a sublime 30-yard strike catching De Gea at his near post. In typical United fashion, an undeterred and resilient early second half performance gifted two goals with Andreas Pereira (53) and Lukaku (59) scoring within 6 minutes of each other. Southampton playing for their lives as they face relegation, managed to draw level with a tantalising free-kick in the 75th minute. A Man of The Match performance was topped-off with a second goal from Lukaku to win the game in the 88th minute.

Chelsea and Manchester City in action

Chelsea and Man City both won last weekend, albeit through narrow margins with the former winning 2-1 over Fulham and City just about getting past Bournemouth in a 1-0 victory. Chelsea’s Higuaín, propelled his side into the lead but this was short lived as Callum Chambers equalised seven minutes later. Scott Parker was off to a dream start which was soon spoiled by an unlikely Jorginho winner, his first Chelsea goal from open play.

Cold Premier League welcome for Brendan Rodgers

Brendon Rogers took the helm at his new side, former Premier League champions, Leicester City, against a surprisingly in form Watford side. Leicester gave away an early goal through a smartly directed Troy Deeney header on the end of a cross from Deulofeu. Leicester managed to pull one back in the 75th minute as Jamie Vardy out ran Mariappa to cleverly finish with the outside of his boot.

Brendan Rodgers off to a turf start at the Foxes. Source: Fox Sport

Last gasp pressure by Leicester bore no fruit as a late goal by Andre Gray – assisted by Deeney in the 92nd minute – leaves Leicester in 11th place and with a long journey back to the East Midlands. Welcome back to the Premier League, Brendan.

Next week’s games

Solskjaer’s United travel to Arsenal on Sunday looking to continue their unbeaten run in the Premier League under his tenure. League contenders Man City and Liverpool each face tough games in Watford and Burnley, respectively. Burnley are an especially disciplined side who will look to frustrate Liverpool’s front three.

Chelsea face an equally difficult game at home to Wolves, and with everything to play for at at both ends of the table, every game is a cup final at this point.

Keep up to date with TCS for all the latest sports news.

Joshua Raj is a journalist for TCS scribe. A student at Loughborough University, he also plays various sports. Well he tries to. Having lived most of his life in South-East Asia, Joshua is interested in comparative politics and finance after being fascinated with how ‘governance’ has been applied by the rising economies in the region. Particularly, how they differ from the Western in which they seek to reconcile their own brand of rigid politics with fluid free-market economic principles.

The Legacy of Yannis Behrakis: Conflict Photographer Dies Aged 58

Catherine Sirotkin
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The Legacy of Yannis Behrakis: Conflict Photographer Dies Aged 58

“My mission is to make sure that nobody can say: ‘I didn’t know’.”

Yannis Behrakis

Whilst international security and conflict is a topic most often monopolised by politicians and writers, photographers play a pivotal role in how we understand and internalise the struggles of others. In 2015, the photograph of Alan Kurdi, a three year old Syrian boy photographed drowned on a beach, humanised those previously degraded as “cockroaches” in the refugee crisis. It was photography, not politics nor the likes of Katie Hopkins urging xenophobia, that was able to have the biggest effect in terms of changing Britons opinions. This importance is even more personified by Yannis Behrakis. 

Behrakis was one of the worlds best-loved photographers, committed to representing those that are wrongly portrayed and demonised by mainstream media. What made his work and his legacy so extra-ordinary was his ability to reflect empathy into the photos he took. In a world where digitisation has led to mass desensitisation, Behrakis humanised his photos and that is what made them feel so personal. His images portrayed the experiences of what the subjects were going through – be that starvation, war, heartbreak or happiness and encapsulated them into photographs that touched those around the world. Behrakis was able to switch the narrative of pity and degradation that we often see in mainstream media, to a narrative that showed the strength and humility of those that are fighting for the rights we often take for granted.

Following his recent death, we have included below some of his pictures that made the most impact:

All photo credits go to Yannis Behrakis and Reuters.

Citizenship Is A Privilege Not A Right For BAME Individuals

Afoma Andrea
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Citizenship Is A Privilege Not A Right For BAME Individuals

It could be forgiven if the statement above came across as being insensitive. But in light of the events over recent weeks, this seems to be true. There are two different sets of citizenships that exist in Britain. One is for the white Britons with no apparent foreign ‘mixture’ who are inalienable, whilst the other is for those who are either foreign born or who’s foreign origin is noticeable.

A white Briton’s citizenship is seen as a right and yet for those of a minority background it is something to be earned. And even when it is earned it can be revoked at anytime.

Just a week ago Shamima Begum, the London teen who fled the UK to join the Islamic State group (Isis) in Syria, was stripped of her British citizenship. Faced with questions of the legality of such a decision, Home Secretary, Sajid Javid asserted that legally a British national who holds dual citizenship can have their British citizenship revoked.

The revoking of one citizenship is said to be reserved for serious crimes such as terrorism, however no proof has been provided to show if Begum even engaged in criminality while in Syria.

While we can probably agree that in certain cases relating to terrorism such a ruling may be legitimate. The acts imply one has taken loyalty to another country over their own. However, when a law becomes used as a discriminatory tool by judges, that is when a line must be drawn. Passport stripping of white non-UK nationals is far lower when compared to those of black or brown origins as – to put it plain terms – their foreign extraction is not detectable.

While Begum fights to prove her right as a British Citizen, “Jihadi John”- a white man who fled the UK to join Isis, has yet to have his passport stripped though he holds dual citizenship with Canada.

An image of Shamima Begum complete with fake bengali script was used at a shooting range.

Tiers of citizenship have always existed in Britain, the public have only just become aware of it

One just has to have a read of the 2014 Immigration Act to see proof of non-white Brits being seen as second-class citizens in a country they helped create. The controversial Act gave Home Secretary powers to revoke citizenship from British nationals who were either born outside of Britain or have parents/grandparents who hold dual citizenship.

Even those of the Windrush generation who under the 1948 British Nationality Act were proclaimed citizens of the United Kingdom, have been greatly affected by the Act. 2018’s Windrush scandal saw the uncovering of wrongful deportations of those from the Windrush generation and the Home Office’s refusal of granting citizenship papers to various individuals though a promise had been made to do so.

A light has been thrown on to what it exactly means to be a British citizen and judging from Home Office’s recent actions, a passport is not enough. British citizenship relies on a multi-layer of factors and the rights to it are not absolute – that’s if your not white.

Stacey Dooley, The New White Saviour?

Shaun Flores
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Stacey Dooley, The New White Saviour?

Strictly come dancing winner Stacey has become the centre of a new controversy. In a recent spout on Twitter, MP David Lammy accused her of perpetuating the “white saviour” narrative with her trip to Uganda in Africa with Comic Relief. She posted a picture of herself cradling a boy whilst on a charity mission.

White saviour is defined as “a cinematic trope in which a white character rescues people of colour from their plight. This trope appears in an array of genres of films in American cinema, wherein a white protagonist is portrayed as a messianic figure who often learns something about him or herself in the course of rescuing characters of colour.”

David Lammy (Source: The Mirror)

Reggie and Bolie, former X Factor stars who have come out in support of MP David Lammy, have said Stacey Dooley is “peddling poverty porn”.

Alongside Emma Dabiri, a fellow black activist and a lecturer in the Africa department at SOAS also tweeted on Twitter.

Stacey Dooley has hit back at David Lammy saying.

“Comic relief have raised over one billion pounds since they started. I saw projects that were saving lives with money. Kids’ lives.”

David Lammy responded via twitter :

David Lammy has rejected Comic Relief’s offer for him to make a film or visit their funded projects, demonstrating his firm standpoint on this new issue.

Uganda’s History

Uganda’s history is thought of in relation to Idi Amin, a dictatorial leader who ruled Uganda with an iron fist.

In 1971, General Idi Amin overthrew the elected government of Milton Obote and declared himself president of Uganda, launching an eight-year regime where an estimated 300,000 civilians were massacred. His expulsion of all Indian and Pakistani citizens in 1972—along with increasing military expenditures—brought about the country’s economic decline. This has lasted for decades and continues to be felt. In 1979 his reign of terror came to an end as Ugandan exiles and Tanzanians took control of the capital of Kampala, forcing Amin to flee. Never brought to justice for his heinous crimes, Amin lived out the remainder of his life in Saudi Arabia.

On the This Morning Show The High Commissioner of Uganda has detailed that Uganda does need UK aid for anything including the provision of education, support to the health sector, support for refugees. They are not comfortable with pictures of young people on social media being ‘saved’. The stance is clear and further validates David Lammy’s outrage. Uganda’s High Commissioner wants to move forward with more positive images of Uganda.

The Other Side

The other side will argue that this is the how we promote charity in Africa. Images is the way. It doesn’t always have to be about race. Some people would refer to what David Lammy highlighted as race baiting. Using the white card against her in an attempt to smear her genuine kind hearted efforts. Why should skin colour matter when it comes to someone helping someone else?

Is this the white saviour complex?

During the Windrush scandal David Lammy has emerged as a political giant of sorts. He speaks even more candidly and is clearly not afraid to challenge the establishment and narratives that serve to hurt the black community.


Stacey Dooley has unearthed a white saviour complex. However, we must question, what is the next possible alternative? When Reggie Yates, Ed Sheeran, have done charity work in Africa I have not seen the outroar. David Lammy claims it has nothing to do with Stacey being “white”, evidently it must be, since the term “white saviour complex” has been used. Maybe Lammy could coin an addition to an already existing term and instead use “British saviour complex”, if it was truly not about her “whiteness”.

David Lammy has spoken out against the narrative that charities are a force for utter moralistic good. Evidence does prove otherwise or even so, perhaps Stacey Dooley is nothing more than an innocent woman who wants to do good in Africa? After all she has made documentaries on social issues previously.

Manchester Pride: the Capitalisation and inaccessibility of activism featuring Ariana Grande.

Justice Waul
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Manchester Pride: the Capitalisation and inaccessibility of activism featuring Ariana Grande.

Historically, Pride marks a pivotal moment for the LGBTQ+ community. In the 1960’s New York’s underground LGBTQ+ scene was constantly attacked and safe spaces raided by the police for just existing. The police were often extremely abusive and invasive to those who did not fit the social norms in regards to sexuality. This was due to rampant homophobia and a lack of understanding that existed at the time. On June 28th 1969 during a police raid in Stonewall, New York the disputes finally reached boiling point. The LGBTQ+ community fought back demanding their rights and protested against the oppression of the LGBTQ+ community. These riots and protests had a knock on effect on LGBTQ+ activism as they began fighting for legality and equality across the globe.

The first pride was held in London in 1972, hosting around 2000 protesters in response to the banning of same-sex marriage in England and Wales in 1971.  Since then laws regarding the lives of LGBTQ+ people have drastically changed including the legalisation of same-sex marriage in 2013 and same-sex couple adoption in 2002. Pride has now become more of a celebration than a protest. Sadly in recent years many cities, companies, and artists have begun to capitalise off of and exploit the annual Pride celebrations. It seems as if pride has neglected its activist roots.

This week it became very evident that pride celebrations were being capitalised on as the prices for Pride tickets were released starting at a staggering £71 for Manchester Pride and £40 for Brighton. Both events have gated off areas in which you cannot go into without a ticket and in the case of Manchester Pride, the whole “festival” is contained to a paid only area. The event is coined as a fundraiser, however, attendees were left baffled as ticket prices rose from the 2018 price of £28. It was revealed that this was due to the fact Ariana Grande would be performing at the “festival”.

Tweet from LGBTQ activism Tanya Compassions

First of all, Pride should under no circumstances be a paid event. No one should have to pay for their unchosen identity and for a safe space to exist especially within one as historically open as Pride. Without diminishing how successful Ariana Grande is and without disrespecting her connections to Manchester, she should not be headlining at an LGBTQ+ EVENT. Pride being coined as a fundraiser is a lie. Ariana’s performance has increased prices by £40 making it now inaccessible to many young LGBTQ+ people who rely on this event to openly be who they are and if ALL LGBTQ+ people cannot attend Pride then what is the point of it? Pride is now an elitist battle for tickets and capitalist event denying access to the people who need it for financial gain.

https://twitter.com/princessmolly04/status/1100088516460064768
Tweets from angry LGBTQ people

Ariana Grande is a huge star who has every opportunity to visit Manchester without her and her non LGBTQ+ fans taking up space that could have been used by actual LGBTQ+ artists and people. This is a space for the LGBTQ + community to celebrate and fight for their rights. Upon these criticisms, her fans quickly came to her defence stating that she was an ally. However, it is 2019 racists marry and give birth to black people, we are fully aware that you do not have to support a movement to exploit it for your own gain. Her fans do not care where she performs, they will still go just to see her. Whether or not she is an ally or not that space she is using could be used by people who need it.

Both Manchester and Brighton Pride should look to the likes of London and Amsterdam Pride. As they provide a free space for the LGBTQ+ community to exist without extreme capitalisation. Ariana Grande fans need to stand back and listen to the LGBTQ+ community rather than speak on their behalf.

Joy Morgan: Man Charged For Murder of Missing Teen

Afoma Andrea
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Joy Morgan: Man Charged For Murder of Missing Teen

A north London man has been charged on suspicion of murder of the missing Hatfield teen, Joy Morgan.

Ajibola Shogbamimu, 40, was re-arrested for murder earlier this week and is said to appear appeared at St Albans Crown Court today.

It is reported that both Shogbamimu and Morgan were members of the same church, Israel United Church in Christ (IUIC) located in IIford. Shogbamimu is said to have been regularly driving Morgan to her church services, also being the last person to be seen with the missing teen on the 27th of December last year.

The church is part of the Hebrew Israelite movement in America, which hold controversial views regarding race and Black Supremacy.

The church have yet to make a formal statement on the disappearance of Joy, however, IUIC’s New York Branch have released a statement stating that: “local news reports…have misconstrued IUIC’S involvement into the investigations of Joy Morgans disappearance.”

They add that the church has been fully cooperative with the law enforcement investigation and that “any person accused of or charged with an offence will no longer be a member”.

A Go Fund Me page has been created to help fund Joy’s burial but her mother, Carol is disputing the speculation of her daughter being dead. She expresses her belief that her daughter is alive and has pleaded for her to come home.

Shogbamimu trial date is set for Monday 8th of July.

01 – The Detail: Echo Chambers

The Common Sense Network
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01 – The Detail: Echo Chambers

In an age of hyper information, one would be forgiven for expecting a growing number of information sources to result in a more informed and considered demos.

In fact, the opposite is true. People are more polarised and disenfranchised than they have ever been. Don’t believe me? Take a look at the Brexit vote in June 2016 where 51.89% of 46,500,001 voted Leave and 48.11% voted Remain. A clear depiction of the United Kingdom’s stark division. What has transpired since, for the most part, is a heel digging into ideological trenches and a general unwillingness to learn about the ‘other side’.

Now, I should temper this early apocalyptic claim with an acknowledgement that division isn’t new. It is as old as speech itself. However, the emergence and proliferation of tech has exacerbated division, and led to the creation of new online echo-chambers, where opposing views don’t meet. This why we created The Detail. At The Common Sense Network, we believe you deserve to hear all the sides of a debate before you make up your mind. Especially debates this important.

Here’s The Detail: READ NOW

THE DETAIL_ ECHO CHAMBERSDownload

Wilful Ignorance: The New Political Power Play?

Fergus Macphee
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Wilful Ignorance: The New Political Power Play?
The Home Secretary Sajid Javid was forced to reassess his decision to revoke Shamima Begum’s citizenship this week, in an exchange that posed some potentially sinister questions.

After the furore of the past fortnight surrounding Shamima Begum, the discussion appeared to have finally been settled with the Home Office’s controversial decision to revoke the 19-year-old’s citizenship. However, speaking to the Home Affairs Committee on Wednesday, Sajid Javid shed new light on the debate by conceding that this may be more difficult to action than first thought. The issue being that under the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights, no citizen can be legally left stateless.

” (1) Everyone has the right to a nationality. (2) No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality”

Universal Declaration of Human Rights – Article 15

Upon removing Shamima Begum’s citizenship, Javid was adamant that he would not be breaking UN law, as she had inherited Bangladeshi citizenship due to her parentage. As we know, the Bangladeshi government quickly refuted this claim, due to the fact that she has never lived in Bangladesh. She is able to apply for citizenship yes, but she cannot be a citizen simply because her mother is Bangladeshi-born. Naturally, the Bangladesh Foreign Office were never going accept a plea from someone with little connection to the country and a proven affiliation with ISIS. Were they?

Simple misunderstanding, or slight deception?

This poses an interesting question about Javid’s role in all this and how much he knew in regards to the law. During his questioning in front of the Home Affairs Committee, he made sure to use choice words when pressed on the issue.


“I certainly haven’t done that and I am not aware that one of my predecessors has done that in a case where they know an individual only has one citizenship, as that would be breaking international law as we understand it.”

Javid’s words from Wednesday.
Source: The Guardian

By addressing the issue of international law and including the caveat of ‘knowing’ an individual does not have dual citizenship, Javid has expunged himself of any responsibility. Perhaps it was a case of genuine ignorance and Javid simply didn’t know Shamima Begum did not have Bangladeshi citizenship. Surely though, as the Home Secretary, he must have been aware of her circumstances and known full well that the decision to deny her re-entry to the UK was not wholly his to make. Even before this week, he has faced fierce criticism over the situation, as some have seen it as a cynical bid for Tory leadership; even those in his own party.

Social media the catalyst

In truth, whatever happens next with Shamima Begum, Javid and the Home Office have already won. Such was the media circus surrounding the story, that their decision to revoke Begum’s citizenship when they did was inspired. It clearly presented the Home Secretary as a strong leader; who is not afraid to make difficult decisions; and most importantly for the general public, a Home Office that is tough on terrorism. This subsequent back-pedalling at the Home Affairs Committee simply has not received anything like the same coverage or shares on social media. If the decision is reversed, the circus will start up again, but Javid can then point to a ruling that was simply out of his hands and down to obeying international law.

With social media, it is becoming easier for this level of wilful ignorance to be used as an important political tool. Daniel Kawczynski’s now infamous Twitter claim that Britain received no compensation from the Marshall Plan after the Second World War, as a way of criticising the EU’s stance on Brexit is perhaps the worst example of this. Kawczynski was heavily condemned online and in the press for spreading false information, but only apologised a whole two weeks later. The claim remains up on his Twitter feed, having now been retweeted 3316 times and liked 8528 times.

The issue is wide reaching, but its utility to drum up support among the converted should not be underestimated. Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour party leadership have seemingly been ignorant to antisemitism for the past 18 months, yet Corbyn held Chris Williamson as a close ally; a man with a chequered history to say the least. The cheers that met Williamson’s controversial speech this week however, show that there is great support at a Labour activism level for this line of the party.

A broken political climate, ease of use on social media and the rise of echo chambers have all contributed to this ‘post truth’ environment. There’s a growing view that as long as what you preach is seen by enough of the right people, nothing else really matters. It is frustrating, staggering and deeply troubling, but it is not going to go away anytime soon.

The £52 Schengen Brexit Visa

Richard Bolton
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The £52 Schengen Brexit Visa

Spanish demands to change the EU statute book wording on the status of Gibraltar are stalling agreement exempting UK nationals from requiring the travel permit.

Gibraltar is currently titled a ‘colony of the British Empire’.

Spain would have it replaced with: ‘disputed territory on the UN list of “non-self-governing territories…subject to decolonisation”’.

The 26-member states have reluctantly agreed to include the footnote with Spain’s demands, yet the European Parliament rejected the language.

At this late hour, the European council are really being very brash with such a short time window to patch up the immediate issues that a ‘no-deal’ Brexit would leave.

Brexit will hurt the EU and United Kingdom alike in the short term. To be throwing faux punches and jibes at this stage are creating further problems when they should be in fact trying to alleviate the blows. It’s comparable to leaving a relationship turned sour, where the best-case scenario would be for the two parties to hold their heads high and move on with their lives, however, what likely ensues is a pitching battle of vitriol and pyrrhic, often needless battles.

Current formal proceedings would see the UK remain visa-exempt until 2021. Thereafter, visas would be £7 for 3 years for UK nationals.

Should we crash out of the EU without breaking the impasse? British tourists will be left in legal limbo as the UK will be neither on the list of countries where a visa is required or among those with an exemption.

Fewer than 90 days may incur a £52 (60 euros) Schengen visa or be left waiting for the completion of bilateral deals before being allowed to travel.

If the Commons can agree to back the Prime Minister’s withdrawal agreement, we would have 21 months transition period to allow more time for a solution to be found.

The Spanish request was blocked by France with provinces of French Polynesia and New Caledonia also being on the UN list of non-self-governing territories…subject to decolonisation.

The addition of “colony”, as noted by Labour MEP, Claude Moraes, is a political act that is unnecessary for this legislation to be enacted.

Should Spain Complain and Accuse the UK?

Northern Ireland is not comparable to Gibraltar given that the Good Friday Agreement is to remain during the Brexit process. May’s minority government is now stuck between a rock.

With populism on the rise in Europe, it’s an appropriate time for Spain to complain and accuse.

Angela Merkel’s Christian Democrats power waning with each election.

Since 2017, Alternative for Deutschland, AfD, has been the largest opposition party in the Bundestag. They are right wing populist eurosceptics open to working with far-right groups like Pegida, feeding criticism they sympathise with identitarianism, neo-nazism, xenophobia and racism.

Austria’s Sebastian Kurz, Hungary’s Viktor Orban boasting of his “destiny-deciding victory” giving Hungarians “the opportunity to defend themselves and to defend Hungary”.

Viktor Orbán, leader of Hungary // Wikimedia Commons

Orban believes he is defending his country and the whole of Europe from the threat of Muslim marauding immigrants.

Swedish democrats, with roots in neo-Nazism won 18 per cent of the 2018 general election.

Marine Le Pen was runner-up in the French elections. Macron, only carries 28 per cent voter satisfaction now.

Le Pen competed with formidable candidates like Francois Fillon and Jean-Luc Melenchon in the last French election and survived.

The UK had the Scottish Referendum and the Brexit Referendum under the same Tory leadership of David Cameron, which would make him the worst in living memory. Fingerprint evidence all over the botched referenda.

Unabating populism in Southern Europe

Five Star Movement and the League, headed by Matteo Salvini, constituting the coalition government in Italy. Podemos in Spain and Alex Tsipras in Greece.

Given all this, why would it not be a good time for Spain to voice her objections, deflecting the attention from current challenges and restoring some of her national pride and identity with geopolitical postulating.

Why Should Gibraltar remain British?

There’s no need for the UK to consider having a backstop with Spain. Gibraltar voted (95.91%) remain during the Brexit referendum, yet the total votes cast were only 20,172.

If Gibraltar decided to leave the UK simply because it doesn’t like the UK’s decision to leave the EU, it doesn’t have much of an arsenal in its tool set to make waves. It can’t afford to have its own money. Would it print its own money for such a small population? More likely it would be cornered into adopting the euro.

If Gibraltar continued using the pound after leaving the UK, would that not then lead to continued manipulation?

EU membership is proportionally the most expensive when you have no money.

What if it went back to Spain and Catalonia seceded?

Gibraltar has a population of 33, 140 in 2015. It has an unemployment of 62 people in the 3rd Quarter of 2018.

That essentially means every Gibraltarian has a job. Nearly 84% of Gibraltarians make up its workforce.

Spain, on the other hand, has an overall unemployment rate of nearly 15%.
(seasonally adjusted, i.e. the figure could be higher during off season.) Spain’s youth unemployment rate is well in excess of 40%

GINI index for Gibraltar is unavailable but here are the GINI indices for the UK and Spain from the World Bank. It is used as a gauge of economic inequality, measuring income distribution with 1 representing perfect inequality and 0 perfect equality. Spain is heading up and the UK’s GINI coefficient is falling.

Given the dire economic condition that Spain is in at the moment, why shouldn’t its politicians and government distract its own citizens? This is by no means an isolated case. It’s indeed a worldwide phenomenon that has gone on since the dawn of time. With the election of Trump, the Americans and people from the world over are having more than a bit of consternation after all.

If you still recall Cristina de Kirchner of Argentina (President Argentina 2007-15), you will remember that she’d so many domestic political woes on many fronts. What did she do then? She made cries to reclaim Malvinas (Falkland Islands), condemned the UK with threats to prosecute British oil companies and called the islanders “squatters”. Loud and clear announcements that carried little substance but plenty of volume, all to distract her citizens from her domestic problems. The UK, on the other hand, simply ignored her.

Cristina de Kirchner – “Malvinas is ours!”

If Spain is indeed using the Brexit vote and Gibraltar as political pawns, it isn’t going anywhere.

I can clamour for Ariana Grande and Emily Ratajkowski all day long, but I can tell you it’d get me nowhere.

NBA Announces Basketball Africa League

Common Sense Contributors
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NBA Announces Basketball Africa League

by Rutvik Bhaskaer Perepa

NBA commissioner Adam Silver announced a partnership with Federation International Basketball (FIBA) to launch a global expansion league in Africa. 12 teams will be representing 9 countries across the continent. Teams will have to qualify to play in the league, with no more than two teams per country advancing.

“The Basketball Africa League is an important next step in our continued development of the game of basketball in Africa,” Silver said in a statement. “Combined with our other programs on the continent, we are committed to using basketball as an economic engine to create new opportunities in sports, media, and technology across Africa.”

According to Silver, several of the NBA’s major sponsors have already reached out about partnering with the new Basketball Africa League. Pepsi and Jordan Brand are among the most notable. Former USA president, Barrack Obama, was in favour of the announcement and praised the advancement of the NBA into Africa.

Prominent African emmisery and NBA legend, Manute Bol, who hailed from Sudan, was primarily responsible for taking the game to Africa through his philanthropy work. Popular Chicago Bulls player and ex-Laker, Luol Deng, was one of his pupils. Hall of Famer, Dikemebe Mutombo, has also been paving the way for the unveiling of the new league through his work on the NBA/FIBA’s Basketball Without Borders project, which has been conducting basketball development and community outreach in Africa (as well as five other continents) since 2001.

A famous highlight

Ex Houston Rockets player, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Cameroonian NBA All-Star, Joel Embiid, are the past and present superstar centres along with Manute Bol and Mutombo, who raised the African presence in the NBA. In a league where there is only one African president of basketball operations in Toronto Raptors president, Masai Ujiri, this NBA expansion into Africa is exactly what the sport needs on all levels.

The NBA and FIBA plan to dedicate financial support and resources toward the continued development of Africa’s basketball ecosystem, including training for players, coaches and referees, and infrastructure investment. Additional details about the Basketball Africa League will be announced at a later date.

Keep up to date with TCS Sport for all the latest sports news!

Rutvik Bhaskar Perepa is a student at The University of Manchester working towards a MEng in Mechanical Engineering hoping to be on a placement after Year 3. He has had the privilege to travel around his home country, India and discover the rich heritage and diversity. His personal interests include Food and travel, history, Sport among many others. Often found in discourse on various issues ranging Engineering to Religious Practices, he never shy’s away from being expressive. He believes in being open minded, empathetic and analytical is the key to problems posed on a daily basis.

Shamima Begum’s Citizenship Revoked: When Will Minorities Be British enough?

Catherine Sirotkin
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Shamima Begum’s Citizenship Revoked: When Will Minorities Be British enough?

Shamima Begum, born and raised in East London and of Bangladeshi descent, had her citizenship revoked last week after travelling to Syria to join ISIS four years ago.

Recently, Begum asked the UK to accept her return to where she was born so that she is able to raise her new born son free from the fears that concurrently develop when living in a state of war. Yet, with her British citizenship stripped, it is hard to consider this a consequence autonomous from the fact that she is a second generation immigrant holding ethnic minority status in the UK. 

By revoking her citizenship, the British government is echoing past sentiments that ethnic minorities are not, and will never be, British. The windrush scandal last year has further proven such, with British-Caribbeans having their citizenship unreasonably challenged and often downgraded. It continues a narrative that Britishness is monopolised to be synonymous with whiteness.

Whilst the British government refuses to face its responsibilities as a state in providing care for Shamima, or her new born son at the least, it has previously been quick to deport other individuals associated with terrorism to their own home countries. In 2013 Abu Qatada, a Jordanian national living in Britain, was deported back to Jordan after serving multiple sentences under terrorism laws in 2002. The British government is extremely quick to alienate its resources when involving non British nationals, yet it now has also mirrored these actions with its own people. 

Over the last seven years, 900 British citizens have left to join ISIS. Rather than using Begum’s case to create a precedent of harsh ruling against former ISIS members, the government should instead explore the root causes of the crisis. I predict that this would show that social isolation of ethnic minorities due to stereotypes of both muslims and south asian culture is a huge factor in making children as young as Begum vulnerable to online grooming.

The rise of Islamophobia in the past decade has caused a hyper visibility to descend onto the British muslim population. For someone who is constantly looked at as an outsider, it is easy to look for an alternative sense of belonging, which Shamima became victim to. Helen Powell, a researcher in extremism at George Washington University, explained that ISIS exploits teenagers’ idealised vision of the world, where there is a strong search for social justice and this romanticism that comes with young naivety. It is a similar romanticism that we see in cases of sexual grooming of under age girls, yet our reactions are naturally completely different, even though Shamima was married to a man almost a decade older than her within 10 days of her arriving in Syria. 

As a population and a government, we must look at the situation as how we would look at other children becoming susceptible to online grooming and coercion. If this was a young white girl, with two white parents living in the home counties would the reaction be the same? I would argue it wouldn’t be. Within the Rochdale grooming case, white girls groomed by asian men rightfully caused fury nation wide. Yet there is an absence of concern surrounding the fact that Shamima was impregnated three times before her nineteenth birthday by a man far older than her. Like the ever so patronising question of “Where are you really from?”, we must change our associations of Britain and what being British means to reflect the fact that much of what Britain is built on is owed to families like Shamima’s.

The Britishness of muslims and other minorities needs to stop being second guessed and downplayed. 

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