What Britain Talks About This Week – Boris Johnson | Chris Wood | Golden Globes 2022 | Kate Middleton & Platinum Pudding | UK Covid News

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Calls for Resignation Echo as Boris Johnson Apologizes for Pandemic Christmas Party

“I believed it was a work event” said Prime Minister Boris Johnson as he apologized in the House of Commons on Wednesday, making it the very first time acknowledging that he attended the No 10 Downing Street Christmas party during the 2020 lockdown.

The UK Prime Minister offered his heartfelt apologies, saying there are things his government ‘just did not get right’.

However, Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran pointed out that the Prime Minister still did not admit he broke any rules, adding that ‘he has to go’.

Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Sir Edward Davey MP, called it a shameful event and asked, ‘why the only person to resign so far for the scandal was Allegra Stratton (a woman)?’

Angry Brits converted the apology into a meme fest on social media. A Twitter user jokingly accused him of mistaking ‘a drinks menu for a spreadsheet’.

Some critical voices analyse the current media coverage of the Prime Minister, claiming it to be a witch hunt to bring him down.

Shocking Details Revealed as Burnley Striker Chris Wood Moves to Newcastle United

With an endless pot of money at their disposal, the football world has become the oyster for Newcastle United and they are being linked to almost every player in Europe. The recent surprise (or shock!) is Burnley Striker Chris Woods.

Eddie Howe, Newcastle United Manager, called it an ‘important’ new signing and said he believes the ‘physicality and character’ of Chris Wood will make him a key part of the Premier League next season.

Chris Wood joined the Magpies in a stunning £20 million deal in this year’s January transfer window, triggering the release clause in his contract. Pete Graves, Presenter for Sky Sports, tweeted the confirmation that Burnley did not want to sell!

While initially, it seems difficult to understand the reason behind the signing, many feel Newcastle aims to weaken Burnley by making them lose one of their most prolific forwards. A Twitter user’s viral tweet echoes this sentiment.

Winners of Golden Globes 2022: Michaela Jaé Makes History at a Celebrity-Boycotted Ceremony

In a ‘downsized’ ceremony this year, the Golden Globe winners were announced without guests, telecast, or hosts. The lack of diversity and transparency in the voting membership triggered a celebrity boycott of the event, a disgrace in the public eye, and the cancellation of its TV coverage.

Michaela JaĂ© Rodriguez became the first transgender actress to win a Golden Globe. She was awarded best actress in a TV drama for her role on FX’s Pose. Michaela tweeted that she’s still ‘on cloud 9’.

Among other big winners were

  • Benedict Cumberbatch starring in ‘The Power of the Dog’ for best picture for a drama and best director

  • Steven Spielberg’s ‘West Side Story’ for best picture comedy and musical

  • Nicole Kidman is the best actress in a motion picture for her role in ‘Being the Ricardos’.

  • Andrew Garfield as best actor in a musical and comedy motion picture for ‘Tick, Tick
Boom!’

In an effort to ‘improve’ and ‘promote a uniform approach toward diversity, equality, inclusion, and accessibility, The Hollywood Foreign Press Association group behind the Golden Globes, has partnered with the NAACP, the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People.
This partnership has been announced as the Reimagine Coalition.

Royal Good & Bad News: Kate Middleton Turns 40 & The Queen Launches a Baking Contest for her Platinum Jubilee – Prince Andrew loses Military Titles

Kensington Palace released three new portraits of the Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton a night before she celebrated her 40th birthday.

Exuding ethereal glamour, she looked stunning in Alexander McQueen and jewellery from the collections of both Queen Elizabeth and Princess Diana.
The smiling mother of three was hailed as being ‘in her prime’, ‘confident’, ‘funny’ and most of all ‘Britain’s reliable royal’.
Among many wishes that stood out on social media, 23-year-old artist Nathan Wyburn’s portrait of Kate Middleton made with bread slices and a pot of Marmite Gold looked incredible.

On another exciting note, The Queen has announced a nationwide competition in search of the perfect pudding recipe ahead of her platinum jubilee. The winning recipe will be made public as well as a part of the celebration of her 70-year long reign and shall be ‘enjoyed by generations to come.

The five finalists will prepare their platinum puddings for an expert judge panel that includes the Buckingham Palace Head Chef, who has also shared tips for aspiring entrants.

The ’Platinum Pudding’ is set to follow the classic Victoria sponge and Battenberg cake, since the Queen has never had a dish named after her. The competition closes on February 4, 2022.

The good royal news was overshadowed by the removal of the Duke of York Prince Andrew’s military affiliations and royal patronages by his mother, Queen Elizabeth, as announced by Buckingham Palace.

This decision comes after Prince Andrew was unsuccessful with his bid to get the responsible US judge to dismiss his civil case filed by the main witness Virginia Giuffre. He now must defend himself as a private citizen.

Virginia Giuffre responded with a tweet that she will continue to seek justice as a victim of sexual harassment organized by millionaire investment banker Jeff Epstein, who ran a sex trafficking ring with underaged women.

Some Twitter memes went viral hinting at the privileged few in the news this week.

UK Covid Update – End of Free Lateral Flow Tests, Britain could emerge from the Pandemic soon and more public criticism of Covid Vaccine Mandates

Britain could soon become the first country to emerge from the Covid19 pandemic due to high vaccination and infection rates, said leading scientist Professor David Heymann who helped defeat the 1970s Ebola outbreak in Africa.

His welcome assessment is good news for Brits as well as the heavily criticized UK government. It means that the UK is now living with Covid and effectively coping with the virus.
Meanwhile, under plans for living with Covid, the lateral flow tests (LFTs) will not continue to be free for everyone. Prime Minister Boris Johnson plans to announce this controversial move within weeks.

Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister of Scotland, denounced the plan as ‘utterly wrongheaded’.

The UK government expects 6 more years of the virus and ending free LFTs could save billions. However, many criticize this idea as ‘dangerously stupid’ and are calling for the tests to be kept free.

 

In other Covid related news, this week NHS Dr Steve James went viral on YouTube and social media for openly confronting Health Secretary Sajid Javid asking hospital staff what they think about the Covid vaccine mandate for all health care workers coming into effect in April 2022.

 

The doctor claims that the science is not strong enough to make a Covid vaccine compulsory and explains his views and reasons in more detail in this video:

 

Some of his colleagues took to the streets of London on Saturday the 22nd of January 2022 to protest against the NHS Covid 19 vaccine mandate, which comes into effect on the 1st of April according to the UK government.

The London Business News Blog & the UK News blog team was there live:

It was organised by NHS100K and the turnout was estimated at several thousands of participants in London alone, while protests also happened in other UK cities.

Well, another tumultuous week lies behind us and we’re only getting started with 2022!

Post curated by Nidaa Koreishi & Manuela Willbold

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