Only six days out from the sitting of a post-primary transfer test – in the context of rising Covid infections and staff threatening to refuse to work in unsafe conditions – the Stormont Executive finally made the decision to close schools until after the February half-term, forcing the postponement of the tests. Remote learning must be made effective for all students through the provision of broadband access and all necessary equipment.
The storming of the Capitol shocked hundreds of millions across the U.S. and around the world. The chaos that took place inside one of the pillars of American power is in many ways an embodiment of the multi-faceted crises that have engulfed the country. For hours the Capitol was under occupation by a mob, led by far right and fascist elements, determined to overturn the results of November’s election.
Four and a half years after the vote to leave the EU, a trade deal was finally agreed at the eleventh hour before Boris Johnson’s deadline of 31st December 2020. Parliament had just days to look at the deal before ratifying it, making a mockery of the idea that for the right-wing Tories’ Brexit was all about ‘taking back control’.
Early January marked the fortieth anniversary of some of the most horrific killings of the Troubles. On January 5th 1976, six Catholics-three Reavey brothers and three members of the O’Dowd family – were murdered by the Glenanne gang in south Armagh. The Glenanne gang were a ruthless group of RUC, UDR and UVF members who killed many dozens of people.
