⏳ Tuesday Fix: Battle Over or Battle On?
Morning all,
Two former leaders battle for their future, Ghislaine Maxwell gives up the fight to keeps names sealed, and the World Health Organisation suggests Britain's battle against coronavirus might be coming to an end.
Until tomorrow,
Your Fixers
GOOD LISTENER?
Click the screenshot below to access the podcast version of today's NewsFix.
HAPPENING TODAY...
In Ireland, the funeral of Ashling Murphy is due to take place today at 11am. According to RTÉ News, the president, the taoiseach and the justice minister are expected to attend.
At the same time, schools across the country are expected to observe a minute's silence in honour of the 23-year-old teacher, who was murdered last Wednesday. Meanwhile, police have asked for information from anyone who might have seen a man in a black tracksuit. The Irish Times noted police "plan to arrest" and question the man currently in hospital with unexplained wounds as soon as he is deemed well enough.
KEEPING AN EYE...
Israel's former prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is reportedly close to reaching a plea deal - one which would end the corruption trial he has been marred with for years.
According to multiple media reports, it appears Netanyahu is ready to accept some level of guilt, but his family are reportedly against the idea.
The devil in the detail: What remains to be seen is whether or not Netanyahu accepts "moral turpitude" in the deal. If so, it would mean Netanyahu - Israel's longest serving prime minister - would not be able to participate in politics for seven years.
"In the three cases against him, Mr Netanyahu is accused of receiving gifts in exchange for favours; negotiating to improve the circulation of an Israeli newspaper in exchange for positive coverage; and promoting legislation financially favourable to the owner of an Israeli telecom giant in exchange for positive coverage on its news site." - BBC context
Ukraine's former president, Petro Poroshenko, has returned to the country to face charges of treason. Bigger picture: He argues the charges are politically motivated. As The Washington Post pointed out, it makes for "a standoff that observers say risks dangerously dividing Ukraine while Russian forces are massing on the border". The New York Times described it as "a perilous distraction".
"Poroshenko, 56, is being investigated for alleged treason linked to the financing of Russian-backed separatist fighters through illegal coal sales in 2014-15. He could face 15 years in prison if convicted." - CNN context
CONSEQUENTIAL COURT DEVELOPMENTS
In Ireland, the High Court has lifted an order for a woman suffering from anorexia to be force-fed.
The court acknowledged the ruling may result in the woman's death, but expressed hope that with the absence of the feeding tube the woman might respond to other medical treatments.
According to The Irish Times, the woman is in her 40s and has suffered with the disease for more than 25 years.
In the US, Ghislaine Maxwell has given up her fight to keep the names of eight men - or 'John Does' as they are referred to - secret.
Who are the John Does? They are connected to a 2015 defamation case that was brought by Virginia Giuffre. CNN noted two of the 'John Does' do not oppose their names being revealed. It is now up to a court to decide whether or not the names should be unsealed.
Meanwhile, an ITV documentary - Ghislaine, Prince Andrew and the Paedophile - is set to air at 9pm tonight, including a scene where Prince Andrew's mobile phone appears to be found in Epstein's "Little Black Book".
PANDEMIC... BUT MAKE IT POSITIVE
- The end of the pandemic is "in sight" for Britain, according to the World Health Organisation. The Times reported cases fell "by more than a third in a week".
- In Ireland, NPHET is expected to recommend the easing of restrictions on Thursday. What is expected? The main change is expected is a closing time of midnight for bars and restaurants, which have been obliged to shut at 8pm since before Christmas.
MOST READ
- BBC News: Ministers suffer defeats in Lords over crime bill
- The Guardian: 'Operation Rinka': rebel Tories up pressure on Boris Johnson to resign
- The Financial Times: Horta-Osório resigns as Credit Suisse chair over Covid breaches
- Al Jazeera: UK gives Ukraine anti-tank weapons as Canada sends special forces
- The Irish Times: Gardaí investigating Ashling Murphy murder plan to make arrest
RELEASING TODAY
A new book called 'The Betrayal of Anne Frank' releases today, and identifies a suspect believed to have been the person who "gave up" the diarist and her family to the Nazis.
For six years, research was carried out by a team including a former FBI agent. They now believe a Jewish man called Arnold van den Bergh - who died in 1950 - was most likely the person who led the Nazis to Anne Frank's family.
There has also been suggestions Anne Frank's father had received an anonymous letter revealing to him that van den Bergh was the one who betrayed them. The former FBI agent has suggested anti-semitism "may have been the reason it was never made public".
#HAVEYOURSAY
In Monday's NewsFix, we wrote about the government's plan to scrap the BBC's licence fee beyond 2027. We asked you guys on our Instagram what you thought about it;
- 57% of you think the license fee should be scrapped
- 52% think the annual £159 is not value for money
- 42% view the BBC as an objective platform
TWITTER TRENDS
#JamieLynnSpears
As Britney's younger sister continues to promote her new memoir, she participated in a lengthy and emotional podcast interview which released overnight.
Within it, Jamie Lynn touches on the rocky relationship with her sister, the heartbreak Britney must have felt following the break-up with Justin Timberlake, and how she coped with her father's alcoholism.
ON A LIGHTER NOTE...
Definitely funny at first, definitely not funny after a while.
