NEWS ROUNDUP: TCP explodes in east Texas, Keystone pipeline continues to leak and US proposes charging asylum seekers

In the months of October and November, there has been a consistent update on events like the Hong Kong protests, withdrawal of U.S. troops from northern Syria and the impeachment inquiry. Some important stories slip through the cracks, so here are seven stories one may have missed from Texas, the United States and around the world in the last few weeks.

Texas:

Veteran found dead after missing for years –   Navy veteran Ronald White was found dead in his apartment on Nov. 12 after not being heard from for over three years. White’s mother said that her son came to the U.S. after buying a house abroad to vote in the 2016 election. White’s death has not been declared as the toxicology report takes up to three months. After hearing about this story, Houston Marine LaShonda Jones is reaching out to other veterans and veteran organizations to help cover funeral costs.

Chemical plant explodes before Thanksgiving –   Days after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began steps to cut regulations for chemical plants to release public information on chemicals leaked, two explosions occurred at a plant operated by TCP Group in Port Neches. This resulted in two employees, one contractor and three nearby residents being treated at a nearby hospital and a mandatory evacuation for those within four miles. Just outside of Beaumont, this chemical plant exploded early in the morning of Nov. 27 and then later in the afternoon. 

Later on Dec. 5, there was a voluntary evacuation order that lasted 24 hours with concerns stemming from the Thanksgiving week explosions. This plant has spewed over the legal limit of pollution five times in 2019 and has been considered a ‘high-priority’ violator by the EPA for more than two years because of toxic emission leaks. 

United States:

Citizenship fees increase and asylum seekers now charged –   The Trump Administration – through the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) – has proposed an increase in various fees associated with immigration. These range from increasing the citizenship application over 60%, nearly doubling the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) renewal applications, eliminated hardship waivers and the charging of asylum seekers $50 for applications and $490 for work permits. Most countries do not charge asylum seekers application fees and if the U.S. were to start, it would be one of four countries along with Fiji, Iran and Australia to do so.

These changes were stated by the USCIS to prevent a $1.3 billion dollar a year deficit. That same proposed rule would use $207 million dollars of the funds raised to transfer to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Critics of the fee spike and new charge for asylum seekers have called these changes “an unprecedented weaponization of government fees.” Immigration groups have concerns that this will make it harder for low-income immigrants to access citizenship and “it’s more important to protect someone from persecution than it is to receive payment for the services you are providing.” The public comment period for this proposal ends Dec. 14.

Keystone Pipeline leaks 9,120 barrels of oil –  For the second time in two years, the Keystone Pipeline has leaked. The first leak occurred in South Dakota in 2017. This time the leak took place in North Dakota, spilling an estimated 383,000 gallons (9,120 barrels) of oil. TransCanada Energy’s operations control center detected a drop in pressure Oct. 19 and found the leak they are referring to as the “Edinburg Incident.”

This pipeline is not the Keystone XL, which was denied a permit in 2015 by former President Barack Obama and then greenlit by President Donald Trump, but is owned by the same company, TransCanada. This also comes at the moment in which the U.S. State Department is holding public comment request for the construction of the Keystone XL.

International:

Israeli Prime Minister (PM) indicted on three corruption charges –  After announcing over eight months ago he had the intention to, Israel’s Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit made a formal announcement that he would be inditing PM Benjamin Netanyahu on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust on Nov. 21 over three cases.

• “Case 1,000” concerns Netanyahu and his wife’s relationship with two businessmen giving multiple high-value gifts.
• “Case 2,000” involves the PM bribing Israel’s leading newspaper, Israel Hayom, for positive coverage with possible action to advance a law that would ban free papers. This law would affect the anti-Netanyahu rival paper, Yediot, who operates on a paid model. Israel Hayom, the pro-Netanyahu paper, is already free and funded by U.S. casino mogul Sheldon Adelson.
• Also involving the media, “Case 4,000” relates to Netanyahu and his wife bribing the leading telecoms company, Bezeq Relecom Israel, with regulatory favors exchange for good press on their news website Walla.  

This comes after a nearly three year investigation and is the first time in Israel history a sitting PM has been indicted. Netanyahu has called the allegations “fake news” and a “witch hunt.”

Documents reveal inner workings of China’s detention camps – After over a year of criticism from human rights groups and the international communities about China’s mass detention camps made up of ethnic minorities (mostly Muslim Uighurs), official documents were leaked explaining how the camp works. The document explicitly states the purpose of the “education and training center” is to “prevent problems before they happen.” It lays out reasoning for why individuals are detained such as traveling abroad, using apps that the government can’t monitor and engaging in religious activities. Individuals are scored based on the information given and things like how well they speak Mandarin, answer questions and take commands.

Earlier this year, satellite images showing the detainment camps sparked a global outcry and the last few months of the Hong Kong protest have drawn more attention. An estimated one million people have been detained in these camps with some villages losing 50% of their heads of household. China has denied the validity of these documents and has called them fake news. The U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has called the mass detention “human rights violations and abuses.” The U.S. House of Representatives voted 407 to 1 to approve an act that commands the U.S. to identify and sanction officials responsible for the mass internment. The bill also limits U.S. tech used in China that could be used to limit privacy, travel and human rights.

On the bright side:

This year, around the globe, many beauty pageant glass ceilings have been broken. This includes, for the first time ever, Miss America (Nia Franklin), Miss USA (Cheslie Kyrst), Miss Teen USA (Kaliegh Garris) and Miss Universe (Zozibini Tunzi of South Africa) being all black women. In Texas, Pearland resident, Chandler Foreman, was crowned Miss Texas earlier this year.

In her closing address, Miss Universe Tunzi stated, “I grew up in a world where a woman who looks like me—with my kind of skin and my kind of hair—was never considered to be beautiful,” Tunzi said during her closing address. “I think it is time that stops today. I want children to look at me and see my face, and I want them to see their faces reflected in mine.”

The 2019 Miss Universe also made history with its first openly gay contestant Miss Myanmar, Swe Zin Htet. Miss International Queen, a global competition for transgender women founded in 2004, crowned American contestant Jazell Barbie Royale earlier this year making this their first black woman to win as well. Royale is the second American to win this competition.