Belfast, U.K.
Britain has suspended Northern Ireland’s self-rule because of a scandal over spying in the Northern Irish legislature. The province has governed itself for three years through a power-sharing agreement between the Catholic republican parties, which favor joining Ireland, and the Protestant unionist parties, which favor staying a part of Britain. But cooperation has never been easy, and “home rule” has been briefly lifted three times before this week. This latest suspension came amid allegations that one of the Catholic parties was abetting an Irish Republican Army spy ring. Ministers from the Protestant parties threatened to quit and bring down the government. The British minister for Northern Ireland will govern the province until Protestants and Catholics can come to a new power-sharing agreement.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Peter Mandelson called Epstein his 'best pal' in birthday noteSpeed Read The UK's ambassador to Washington described the late convicted paedophile as an 'intelligent, sharp-witted man'
-
A Spinal Tap reunion, Thomas Pynchon by way of Paul Thomas Anderson and a harrowing Stephen King adaptation in September moviesthe week recommends This month's new releases include 'Spinal Tap II,' 'One Battle After Another' and 'The Long Walk'
-
'Vampire energy' could be causing your electric bill to riseUnder the Radar Wasted energy could account for up to 10% of home use
