⏳ Thursday Fix: Brian Laundrie
Morning all,
Partial remains found are believed to be Brian Laundrie's, bringing a likely end to a massive manhunt, but opening another round of unanswered questions.
Until tomorrow,
Your Fixers
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KEEPING AN EYE...
The ongoing search for Brian Laundrie - the former partner of murdered Gabby Petito - has led to the finding of "partial remains" in Florida.
The remains are believed to be Laundrie's, and were found in an area that was under water until recently. CNN cited a source saying the remains "appear to have been there a while" and might take time to officially identify.
Remember: Brian Laundrie and his long-term partner, Gabby Petito, were travel bloggers on a trip around the US over the summer. In September, Petito's body was found after she went missing, and a huge manhunt for Laundrie began. A coroner ruled Petito died from strangulation, and Laundrie - who mysteriously returned home from the trip without Petito before disappearing - was considered a "person of interest" in Gabby's death.
ON TODAY'S AGENDA
In Armagh, there is going to be a church service today to mark 100 years since the partition of Ireland and formation of Northern Ireland. The event has already been in the headlines a few times.
Firstly because Ireland's President Higgins turned down an invite, saying it would be "inappropriate to attend".
Secondly, the Queen "reluctantly" cancelled her trip at short notice yesterday, after doctors advised she rest.
Who is attending? Prime Minister Boris Johnson, and Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney are both expected to attend on behalf of their governments. As RTÉ News noted, Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill will not be there, but the SDLP are expected to send a representative.
AMESS AMENDMENT
A new law, the 'Amess amendment', has been proposed following last week's murder of Conservative MP, Sir David Amess. It would mean that priests would have access to a dying person to give them their last rites, even in situations where it is a crime scene.
Meanwhile, the threat level against MPs in the UK was raised to "substantial" on Wednesday. Worth noting: "Substantial" means a threat is "likely," but it doesn't mean there are any specific attacks imminent or known about.
MOST READ...
- BBC News: Leak reveals lobbying to change key climate change report
- The Guardian: Solar storm confirms Vikings settled in North America exactly 1,000 years ago
- The Financial Times: Netflix employees stage walkout over Dave Chapelle's trans comments
- Al Jazeera: China tested hypersonic weapons twice, 'stunned' US: report
- The Irish Times: Irish banks and funds used in multibillion-euro tax fraud by hedge funds, traders
PANDEMIC
British Health Secretary Sajid Javid warned daily case numbers could reach 100,000 a day this winter. According to The Financial Times, Javid also warned it was England's "last chance" to avoid restrictions this winter, urging people to wear masks and get the booster jab.
On the same day, the tweet below was widely circulated online, pointing out the number of politicians not wearing a mask while gathered together in the House of Commons.
"There are things the public can do. If you are in a crowded place, wear that face mask. It makes a difference, it really does." pic.twitter.com/GPH4KBhYA6
— Danny Wallace (@dannywallace) October 20, 2021
In Ireland, the government will today publish guidelines for nightclubs, restaurants, bars and live events.
In Melbourne, citizens are getting ready for restrictions to ease at midnight local time. As RTÉ News pointed out, the city has spent "a cumulative 262 days, or nearly nine months, under stay-home orders since March 2020 - the world's longest".
TWITTER TRENDS
#TRUTHsocial
Why? Former US president, Donald Trump, announced he is starting a new social media platform called 'TRUTH social', to "stand up to the tyranny of big tech". Trumps expects it will be rolled out to the public within the first three months of 2022.
"We live in a world where the Taliban has a huge presence on Twitter, yet your favourite American President has been silenced." - Donald Trump
#NetflixWalkout
Netflix staff staged a protest yesterday over the streaming service including comedian Dave Chapelle's recent stand-up show. Chapelle makes multiple references to trans people throughout the special, and has been widely accused of being transphobic.
Want to know more? We compiled an explainer on our Instagram page with all the facts.
ON A LIGHTER NOTE...
I'll say it again, we just don't deserve them. 🐾