Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on politics

Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson has declared a state of emergency due to an unprecedented 10-day blockade by protesting truck drivers that paralyzed the Canadian capital, Reuters reported.

"The measure is necessary because of the serious danger and threat to the safety and security of citizens who create ongoing demonstrations."

In a brief statement, the city says the decision reflects a "serious danger and threat to the safety of residents" from protesters who are all over the city and outnumber police officers, reports "Global News".

FOTO: Profimedia

More demonstrators poured onto the streets of Ottawa and other Canadian cities on Saturday demanding an end to Covid vaccine mandates, as protests against pandemic restrictions entered their second week.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson suffered four staff defections on Thursday as pressure intensified on the embattled leader over lockdown parties and his loose-lipped style of politics.

One of the departures was linked to an inflammatory remark made by Johnson, attacking opposition Labour leader Keir Starmer over a notorious paedophile.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson apologized Monday after an inquiry found that Downing Street parties while Britain was in lockdown represented a "serious failure" to observe the standards expected of government or to heed the sacrifices made by millions of people during the pandemic.

The "partygate" scandal that threatens to derail U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson's administration deepened Tuesday as police opened an investigation into gatherings at government offices that allegedly violated COVID-19 lockdown rules.

Over 100,000 people have gathered to march in a massive protest against vaccine mandates and COVID tyranny today in Brussels, Belgium.pic.twitter.com/hn5TOqeUdw

— Michael P Senger (@MichaelPSenger) January 23, 2022

The evacuation of those who participate in the inauguration rehearsal of Joseph Biden is in progress. The chief of the fire service said that the incident, which happened at 10.14 am local time, was related to a small fire, which was extinguished, CNN reports.
As he explained, it was a minimal incident that cannot be considered an incident.