Editorial - 2017 has passed, what’s next?

Welcome to the final issue of Byline for 2017. I would like to thank you, the reader, for taking the time out of your study-filled schedule to pick up and copy, flick through the pages and enjoy some of the fantastic writing talent we have scattered throughout our pages. This issue, considering the occasion and the high expectations set by all previous issues, is one of my personal favourites  and one all our writers are very proud of.   Writing, producing and publishing a magazine with as high a quality of writing as we have isn’t easy. It isn’t just a case of firing whatever comes to the top of our heads onto a blank page and hoping it sounds good. Each and every article is written, edited and re-edited to ensure that the quality of your reading experience is never blemished in any way. For this editorial, I thought what better way to wind down 2017 than to look to the future, past exams and assignments, to the far-off land of 2018. What can we hope to expect from such a year?   Given the year that has just passed, expectations will be low. Political turmoil won’t suddenly disappear with the turn of the year, as Trump, Brexit and Leo will once again dominate the landscape. Given the fact that the FIFA World Cup is taking place in Russia next June, Vladimir Putin is likely to play a larger role than he has this year. Between the world cup and allegations over the American election, Russia could have one of the more interesting years.    America, however, with Trump in charge, will look to take over the front pages once more and will somehow find a way in which to meddle himself in the business of other countries. The big question rolling into 2017 is how long can he last? Upon his inauguration, I didn’t think he would see out 2017 in charge but he’s somehow proven me wrong. Will he last until next summer? Will he still be in the White House come June? Only time will tell.    Brexit negotiations shall continue tirelessly into the new year, but what, if anything, has changed thus far? The British government have been in negotiations for more than a year, with little to nothing to show for it. Given the scale and the importance of such talks, and the amount of time they’ve had to discuss it, you wouldn’t be amiss to be expecting a breakthrough any day now. None, however, seem forthcoming. Trade agreements and the border in the north are still pressing issues and ones that seem to be seeing very little development.  Unfortunately, the more I write the less optimistic I am becoming that 2018 might be different from its predecessor. Only time will tell and hopefully time will be helpful. From all at the Express and Byline, good luck in exams and have a fantastic holiday and we’ll see you in the new year!