Stricter lockdown for NI is needed says union chief + Military will work in NI’s Nightingale Hospital

'Corruption or incompetence': MP questions failure to set up NI spending oversight body

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Subscribe              Jan 21, 2021           Good morning In today's news: * UNISON's regional secretary in Northern Ireland, Patricia McKeown, has said it is now time for the Northern Ireland Executive to impose a "stronger lockdown". * Lockdown measures seem unlikely to the eased in Northern Ireland later today when Stormont ministers meet. * A 35-year-old man has been charged with assaulting police during a police probe into the UDA in west Belfast. * Government says 'goods are moving effectively between GB and NI' - but hauliers warn of 'deep-seated problems'.  * Some 3,500 relatives of people killed during the Northern Ireland conflict have urged the British and Irish governments to fully investigate the decades of violence. * Northern Ireland's two largest parties have appeared to back Health Minister Robin Swann's decision to draft in army medics to bolster the stretched health service in the battle with coronavirus. Want total access to all of our online content? You can subscribe to our website, newsletter.co.uk for just £1 a month for 3 months - and it couldn't be easier.   Signing up will get you faster-loading articles, fewer adverts and access to exclusive content and events when we run them. To learn more, visit our subscriptions page. Stay safe Michael Cousins Deputy digital editor           Stricter lockdown for NI is needed says union chief - Military will work in NI's Nightingale Hospital           UNISON's regional secretary in Northern Ireland, Patricia McKeown, has said it is now time for the Northern Ireland Executive to impose a "stronger lockdown".                 Anti-vax campaigners described as 'threat to us all' after vaccination centre incident   Anti-vax campaigners who gathered at a vaccination centre in County Armagh have been accused of spreading misinformation.           UK Government in negotiations over easing of pet travel restrictions   The UK Government is conducting bilateral negotiations over easing pet travel restrictions between Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republic.           Army Covid furore: What did Unison statement actually say?   Unison's statement questioning the deployment of the Armed Forces to assist in anti-Covid efforts remains online at time of writing, despite the huge controversy it has sparked.           'Corruption or incompetence': MP questions failure to set up NI spending oversight body   A Westminster committee chair has questioned if Stormont's failure to set up an independent spending oversight body is down to a desire to hide corruption or incompetence.           Unison says it does not object to military support in Covid fight following backlash over 'shameful' statement   Unison Northern Ireland has said it does not object to receiving assistance from military personnel to help with the coronavirus pandemic after an earlier statement questioning Stormont's decision to bring in the Army sparked a backlash.           Maybe Van Morrison could visit a hospital hard-hit by Covid   So Sir Van Morrison is to legally challenge Stormont's "blanket ban" on live music in licensed venues because of coronavirus restrictions.           Mark Devenport: USA looks in dire need of a peace process   It's the first full day of the Biden Presidency, and I am wondering how long it will be before we all start experiencing Trump withdrawal symptoms?               THROUGH THE ARCHIVES: From the News Letter of January 1921   Lady McCullagh's tribute to Sir Edward Carson       THROUGH THE ARCHIVES: Correspondent laments state of the Brown Linen Hall   From the News Letter, January 21, 1872                             Comment: Irish road racing facing its greatest ever challenge as Covid-19 crisis bites deep           Wednesday's announcement confirming the North West 200 had been axed for a second successive year did not come as a major shock given the current circumstances concerning the Covid-19 pandemic.                   Liverpool changes can only come from 'playing not by talking' for Jurgen Klopp   Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp believes the debate over their current form illustrates what a "crazy place" the world has become.       Rory McIlroy aiming to start year on high note   Rory McIlroy is impatient to get back into the winner's circle as he bids for an overdue victory in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.       North West 200 'will be back stronger than ever in 2022' says Glenn Irwin   Four-time North West 200 Superbike winner Glenn Irwin is confident Ireland's top road race will return as strong as ever in 2022.                             View more news

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