The UK economy will grow more slowly outside the European Union, no matter what deal is struck with Brussels, a leaked government document suggests. The BuzzFeed News website reports the Whitehall analysis found growth over the next 15 years could be up to 8% lower than if the UK stayed […]
The Irish government has agreed to hold a referendum at the end of May on whether to reform the country’s near-total ban on abortion. The vote will decide whether to repeal a constitutional amendment that effectively bans terminations. Currently abortion is only allowed when a woman’s life is at risk, […]
Chinese efforts to exert covert influence over the West are just as concerning as Russian subversion, the director of the CIA has said. Mike Pompeo told the BBC that the Chinese “have a much bigger footprint” to do this than the Russians do. As examples he cited efforts to steal […]
The US government partial shutdown is ending after Republicans and Democrats voted for a temporary funding bill. The Democratic leadership agreed to back the bill after accepting promises from Republicans for a debate later on the future of young illegal immigrants. President Donald Trump, who signed the bill on Monday […]
A Hindu holy man has been pictured pulling a van along with a part of his body in an act that would make any man’s eyes water. The Sadhu, or baba, used his penis to pull the vehicle as a way of demonstrating his spirituality at the annual Magh Mala […]
Pakistan summoned the U.S. ambassador in protest against U.S. President Donald Trump’s angry tweet about Pakistan’s “lies and deceit”, while Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif dismissed the outburst as a political stunt. David Hale was summoned by the Pakistan foreign office on Monday to explain Trump’s tweet, media said. A spokesperson […]
Rwanda has banned smoking of water-pipe tobacco, popularly known as shisha, starting Friday. Rwanda becomes the second country in Africa to ban shisha smoking after Tanzanian President John Pombe Magufuli imposed the ban in July last year. CANCER Other countries with similar bans are Pakistan, Jordan, Singapore and Saudi Arabia. […]
The brother of Manchester Arena bomber Salman Abedi faces arrest in the UK after prosecutors asked for him to be extradited from Libya. Hashem Abedi was arrested in the country shortly after the suicide attack that killed 22 people. The Libyan authorities are considering the UK’s formal request, Greater Manchester […]
Some sacked members of Catalonia’s regional government have appeared in Spain’s high court for questioning, accused of rebellion and sedition in the wake of October’s disputed independence referendum. Nine officials turned up, while ousted Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont and four others stayed away. Spain’s chief prosecutor has requested the arrest […]
Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta has been declared winner of a controversial re-run of the presidential election. He won 98% of the vote with turnout at just under 39% – less than half that recorded in August’s vote, according to the election commission. The opposition leader, Raila Odinga, pulled out of […]
