Texas synagogue siege
During the Shabbat service on Sunday 16th January at a Texas synagogue, a gunman took four people, including a rabbi, captive. The FBI stormed the synagogue hours later to rescue the hostages. The gunman was pronounced dead at a news conference. The attack had blatant antisemitic motives – the incident took place following a livestream of the service, and just before the livestream was cut off a man could be heard ranting about religion and his sister. The man responsible was the British citizen Malik Faisal Akram, age 44 – as of yet, two other related to the incident have been arrested in the UK.
Boris Johnson facing calls for resignation
Following revelations about Johnson lying about attending parties at No. 10 Downing street, he has faced many calls to resign. Even members within his own party are now publicly calling the PM’s leadership into question as Mr Johnson awaits the outcome of Sue Gray’s inquiry into the allegations of multiple Covid breaches inside Downing Street over the past 18 months. (Ex) Conservative MP for Bury South, Christian Wakeford, defected to Labour on Wednesday in a shock move, amid increasing fear in No. 10 regarding a vote of no confidence.
Djokovic’s deportation from Australia over visa
Djokovic has returned to Serbia after not being able to obtain a visa (due to lack of vaccination/ anti-vax stance) for the Australian Open. After being given access to the country following a court appeal by the player’s lawyers, the Immigration Minster Alex Hawke overruled, and denied Djovakic his right to remain in Australia. Following this scandal, questions have also been raised over Djokovic’s ability to participate in the French Open, the next Grand Slam tournament due to take place in May.
Tonga tsunami
On 15th January, a devastating tsunami hit Tonga (a Pacific island around 2,000 miles east of Brisbane, Australia) after an undersea volcano eruption. While rescue teams have been sent to the islands, aid and communication efforts have been hindered by the ash that continues to fall from the volcano, and a broken communication line in the ocean. Flights have been temporarily halted, there has been vast building destruction, and at least three people have died, including a British woman resident in Tonga, Angela Glover.
Easing of Covid measures in the UK
Boris Johnson has announced an easing of England’s Covid rules regarding Plan B as cases have been falling since early January. On Wednesday 19th January, Johnson announced in the House of Commons that from next Thursday, Plan B is set to end. This means that face coverings in public are no longer mandatory and Covid passports will be dropped. The PM told MPs that according to the scientists, the Omicron variant wave had already peaked nationally.
