Northern Ireland’s Elections Could Bring Shifts on Reunification, Brexit |
Northern Ireland votes today in parliamentary elections that could upset the political balance (Bloomberg) between nationalists and unionists and deal a blow to London’s efforts to redraw the terms of Brexit. A nationalist could win the position of first minister for the first time in Northern Ireland’s history, according to polls that show the Sinn Fein party in the lead.
Sinn Fein supports the reunification of Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom (UK), and the Republic of Ireland. However, campaigning has focused on cost-of-living issues more than reunification. Unionist politicians, who consider themselves British, have said they might not participate (AP) in a potential Sinn Fein government, especially without changes to post-Brexit border agreements. New elections will take place if a government isn’t formed within six months.
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“The decision on Brexit unbalanced the stability of Northern Ireland. And I think that was—that’s what we’ve been grappling with since,” Newbridge Advisory’s John Sawers said in a CFR event.
“If Sinn Fein does emerge as the largest party, however, it will owe less to an increase in its own popularity—in fact the nationalist/republican vote has been static for 20 years despite supposedly favorable demographic trends—than to a splintering of the unionist vote,” the Irish Times writes. At this CFR event, Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald discusses the elections and the future of Northern Ireland. |
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U.S. Regulators Flag More Than Eighty Chinese Companies for Possible Delisting |
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Sri Lankan Leaders’ Pick for Deputy Speaker Wins Election |
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Middle East and North Africa |
Israeli High Court: One Thousand Palestinians Can Be Evicted From Part of West Bank |
The ruling comes after a twenty-year legal battle and deems that the residents can be evicted (The Guardian) from the seven thousand acres in the Masafer Yatta area that have been designated for military use. The land, which is under full Israeli control, is currently home to several Palestinian villages. Iraq: Hospitals across the country received over one thousand patients (The National) with breathing difficulties following a sandstorm, local media reported. |
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Guinean Authorities Issue Charges Against Deposed Ruler |
Guinea’s military government issued charges (AFP, Al Jazeera) against former President Alpha Conde, who was overthrown last year, and twenty-six former officials. The charges include destruction of property and complicity in murder and assault. Nigeria: Extremist rebels killed at least seven people in Borno State’s Chibok region, the Associated Press reported. |
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U.S. Military Reportedly Provided Real-Time Battlefield Intelligence to Ukraine |
The intelligence allowed Ukrainian forces to target and kill multiple Russian generals, two unnamed U.S. officials told the New York Times.
CFR provides comprehensive coverage of the war in Ukraine. |
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Mexico’s Lopez Obrador Kicks Off Tour of Central America, Cuba |
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador will discuss migration (AFP) and regional economic development with officials in Cuba, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras.
U.S./Colombia: Colombia extradited the leader (BBC) of the Gulf Clan drug cartel to the United States. Authorities captured Dairo Antonio Usuga David, also known as Otoniel, in October. |
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In a bid to tame inflation, the Federal Reserve raised its benchmark interest rate (FT) by half a percentage point, the biggest hike since 2000. The Fed previously raised rates in March, making this the first time since 2006 that the Fed implemented rate increases at back-to-back meetings. This Backgrounder looks at the Federal Reserve. |
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Council on Foreign Relations |
58 East 68th Street — New York, NY 10065 |
1777 F Street, NW — Washington, DC 20006 |
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