Steve McGookinJohnson sets out ‘roadmap’ to normality
As the UK’s “unprecedented” vaccine rollout continued, Prime Minister Boris Johnson published his long-awaited “roadmap” out of lockdown, saying he hoped the current restrictions would be the last.
The plan received some pushback from medical experts for his use of specific dates, thus locking in the public’s expectations. Perhaps unsurprisingly, there was a surge in holiday bookings after his announcement.
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EU leaders agreed to maintain “tight restrictions” on public life to guard against the emergence of new variants, while wealthy nations were urged to act to prevent a global “vaccine apartheid.”
In the US, where more than half a million people have now died due to Covid-related causes, the week ended with cases and hospitalizations declining, and almost 2million vaccinations a day being administered. President Biden’s $1.9trillion relief plan passed the House of Representatives but likely faces a more difficult path in the Senate.
Here in Northern Ireland, the Executive will make the latest announcement on Monday about local next steps on our “pathway to recovery”.
It was announced that residents and staff of all care homes here had been vaccinated.
A plan for Northern Ireland’s post-Covid economic recovery was published this week and the bigger economic picture affecting all parts of the UK will be addressed in Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s Budget this coming Wednesday.
Meanwhile, an anti-lockdown protest in Dublin on Saturday ended in clashes between protesters and Gardai.
See Also:
Catching Your Breath: Lobbying For Lung Health In The Time Of Covid-19
Leaders Need To Lead: The Executive and Covid-19
Life Is Harder Right Now. We Should Be Kinder To Ourselves
The Covid-19 Vaccine Explained
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Brexit Protocol remains a sticking point
Tensions over the Northern Ireland Protocol continued this week, with demands and threats escalating among its opponents even as both the UK and EU restated their commitment to the mechanism, put in place by the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement.
After the DUP petition debate at Westminster fell flat earlier in the week, the party held a controversial meeting with leaders of Loyalist groups, which First Minister Arlene Foster called “constructive & useful”.
Agriculture Minister Gordon Lyons subsequently ordered officials to stop the construction of permanent inspection facilities at NI ports.
See Also:
Is The UUP’s Response To The NI Protocol A Vote Winner?
The Long Way Home – Finding A Way Through The Brexit Debacle?
Northern Irish Parties And Europe
Reinforcing Northern Ireland’s In-Betweenness
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US report ties Saudi prince to Khashoggi murder
The US this week released a de-classified national intelligence report into the role of the Saudi government in the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. While the report found that Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman approved the operation that resulted in Khashoggi’s death, the White House opted not to impose any punishment on him directly.
President Biden is set to make an announcement on US policy towards Saudi Arabia on Monday, but it is not expected to contain any significant new steps.
Also this week, President Biden came in for further criticism from his own party after authorizing his first military strike, an attack against Iranian proxies in Syria.
Meanwhile, former president Donald Trump appeared at the Conservative conference CPAC on Sunday evening and in a rambling, bitter speech from its oddly-shaped stage said he would not be starting a new political party, but continued to tease the idea of a presidential run in 2024, confident in the knowledge that the media simply won’t be able to quit him.
Some of his most ardent supporters, meanwhile, still cling to the belief that he will actually be inaugurated this coming week.
Elsewhere, even Daft Punk knew when to call it a day.
See Also:
More To Come In Khashoggi Story
History At Stake As Impeachment Trial Begins
From The Big Lie To A Great Undoing
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Myanmar protests escalate
There were deadly clashes on Sunday between armed state forces and protesters against the military coup which removed the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. At least 18 people were understood to have been killed and several wounded in the deadliest day of violence since the Feb 1st coup.
Nearly 500 people were arrested on Saturday as part of the crackdown and UN officials called on the international community to “send a clear signal to the military that it must respect the will of the people of Myanmar as expressed through the election and stop the repression.”
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Tiger Woods recovering after car accident
Golf great Tiger Woods is said to be “in good spirits” as he recovers in a Los Angeles hospital after a car crash earlier in the week. After suffering serious injuries to his legs, the 45-year-old’s golf career may now hang in the balance.
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Texas Struggles With Response To Unprecedented Weather Event
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