Northern Irish minister orders end to post-Brexit controls
February 3, 2022, 8:45 am

Northern Irish minister orders end to post-Brexit controls

Brexit/Pixabay

The Euronews reported, citing the Associated Press, the Northern Irish Minister of Agriculture ordered his services to stop post-Brexit controls on foodstuffs at midnight, an order whose practical consequences and legality are being questioned in the midst of negotiations between London and Brussels.

The effective entry into force of Brexit a year ago led to the introduction of controls on goods arriving in Northern Ireland from Great Britain.

Designed to prevent the re-establishment of a physical border with neighbouring Ireland that would undermine the peace agreed in 1998, the Northern Ireland Protocol keeps the British province in the European single market and customs union.

Northern Irish Unionists, including Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots of the ultra-conservative DUP party, denounce the controls as a border in the Irish Sea that threatens the British province's place in the UK.

Poots has ordered the head of his administration to cease food controls at midnight on Wednesday at ports in the British province. It is unclear whether or not this order will be followed, with some within the DUP arguing that the administration is under a legal obligation to carry them out.

UK Foreign Secretary to become lead negotiator with EU on Northern Ireland Protocol

Poots has said he has taken "legal advice" on the matter and argues that the checks require the approval of the local executive, which is lacking.

He told senators in Dublin that Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney denounced a "violation of international law". "This is playing politics with legal obligations."

Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill, of the left-wing Republican party Sinn Fein, denounced on Twitter a move by the DUP to "illegally interfere with national and international law".

European Commission to set out adjustments to easing medicines flow from Britain to Northern Ireland

This comes three months before crucial elections in May, when Sinn Fein, which favours a referendum on the reunification of the island within five years, is leading in the polls.

The controversial Northern Ireland Protocol is currently the subject of intense negotiations. British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss is due to hold talks with European Commission Vice-President Maros Sefcovic on Thursday in a call.

European Commission warns UK if it renegotiates Northern Ireland protocol

Under pressure from unionists who have demanded progress by 21 February, the date of the next meeting of the joint UK-EU committee on the implementation of the Brexit agreement, the British diplomatic chief posted last week during a trip to Northern Ireland to make "significant progress" quickly.

Source: euronews

King of Jordan: Saudi Arabia’s security is an integral part of Jordan's security Armenian parliament to elect president in March

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”