Health Secretary Matt Hancock has resigned
The nation’s Health Secretary Matt Hancock, who has been in government throughout the Covid crisis, announced last week to the public through a Twitter video that he will be resigning from his position, despite PM Boris Johnson claiming he is willing to accept his apology and leave it at that. This resignation follows Hancock’s breaking of social distancing regulations because of CCTV footage leaked of himself with Gina Coladangelo- his closest first aid- where he was seen to be kissing and embracing her. It seems now that Boris Johnson is trying to imply that he wanted him to resign, however the public is far from fooled, given that only a few days ago he called the matter “closed”. Keir Stamer has also confronted Johnson on this contradiction in the House of Commons, creating a humorous commotion while he exposed the flaws in the PM’s statements. Sajid Javid, a former chancellor and home secretary, was announced as his replacement by Downing Street.
Palestinian activist dies after beating by Palestinian authority security forces
Last Thursday, Nizar Banat, a 43-year-old activist, well-known for his videos on social media which denounced alleged corruption within the Palestinian authorities, died after security forces broke into his house and gave him a ‘brutal’ beating. As a result of this killing, there have been demonstrations in Ramallah speaking out against the authorities for encroaching on freedom of speech. However, there are also a great number of citizens who are pro-Fatah or who support the ruling elite. This contrast in protesters’ views has led to clashes in this past week of protest, many of them violent. Journalists who have attended to report the events and status of the protests have faced aggression too, some citing that their cameras were broken by the Palestinian authority security members themselves.
Heatwave strikes in British Columbia
Earlier this week, Canadian officials have commented on the blazing heat wave hitting British Columbia over the last 8 days and with 233 deaths reported in just 4 days, it seems that the intense temperature rise is fatal. The number of deaths is particularly alarming if we compare it to the expected number of deaths in the same time period which is roughly 130. Other areas such as Portland and Seattle have also been breaking all-time temperature records this week amid what is called the “heat dome”- a high pressure zone near the US-Canada border. Given the pressure on British Columbia’s emergency resources, many officials have stepped up to offer help such as the federal public safety minister who tweeted this week the government is “ready to assist British Columbians if requested”. Many scientists are crediting this extreme heat to climate change and hoping this serves as a signal to the nation that drastic environmental action is needed.
US and UK accused of military provocation by Russia
US and UK accused of military provocation by Russia Russia’s Defence Ministry has recently warned, in a statement broadcast on state television, Britain and the US should refrain from sending warships into the Black Sea as this would be a form of “tempting fate”, and that Putin would be more than ready to defend his borders. This issue appeared as British and American vessels were possibly approaching the coast of Crimea, which is a peninsula annexed by Moscow from Ukraine in 2014. Crimea is internationally recognised as part of Ukraine, but the Russian government considers it their territory. This warning came after an incident last Wednesday where Russia dropped bombs into the Black Sea. The two nations disagree on whether this was due to a British warship approaching Crimea, or Russians just doing “gunnery exercise”.
