29 h. ago ‘No evidence’ of loyalist threats after Belfast council vote on Irish language

It follows a report that loyalist paramilitaries had threatened violence against council facilities.

Politics

4 d. ago The Irish language is a joy not a burden: in what other tongue is a penis a wild carrot? | Una Mullally

Record numbers of pupils are seeking opt-outs from compulsory learning. This is misguided – Irish is a portal to a world of imaginationAmid a boom in Irish culture across music, literature, film and fashion, the Irish language – Gaeilge – is also experiencing a revival. Once the majority’s native tongue, it was assailed and diminished as a daily, working, spoken language under British colonialism and became largely confined to rural west coast districts for much of the 20th century, kept alive by generations of families. But over recent decades the number of schools teaching the national curriculum exclusively through Irish has risen significantly, from fewer than 20 in the 1970s, to more than 200 today. The 2022 census showed a 6% increase in the number of people able to speak Irish compared with 2016. Irish is a core subject on the curriculum and compulsory in all schools.Yet in the academic year of 2024-25, a record number of pupils – 14% of the post-primary school population – w...

Politics

7 d. ago MSPs to vote on cutting 'unpayable' council tax debt to end 'cycles of poverty'

The Scottish Greens want the time limit for council tax arrears in Scotland to be brought in line with England.

Economics

7 d. ago Court overturns London council vote, returns Randall Weddle to office

Court overturns London council vote, returns Randall Weddle to office  WUKY

Politics

1 week ago Iran snapback sanctions loom as UN security council set to vote on nuclear programme

Russian efforts to delay the return of sanctions is expected to fail during vote on FridayA final Russian attempt to defer the snapback of large-scale UN sanctions on Iran is expected to fail at the UN security council on Friday after European countries rejected last-minute Iranian offers to give UN weapons inspectors limited access to its bombed nuclear sites.Russia will call for the reimposition of the sanctions to be deferred for six months to give more time for diplomacy, but European diplomats are confident that Russia will not get the nine votes it needs on the security council for the snapback to be deferred. The last time Russia put the same issue to a vote it received only four votes. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago Canada bans Irish rap group Kneecap from entering the country

The Canadian government banned the Irish-language rap group Kneecap from the country Friday, saying the group has endorsed political violence and terrorism

Politics

2 w. ago UN Security Council plans a vote on Iran 'snapback' sanctions ahead of deadline

The U.N. Security Council is expected to vote on a resolution on whether to reimpose sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program

Events

2 w. ago UN Security Council to vote on Gaza ceasefire resolution but another US veto expected

The U.N. Security Council is set to vote on a resolution that would once again demand an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages

Events

3 w. ago Hong Kong criticised for rejecting bill giving ‘bare minimum’ rights to same

Legislative council voted down a bill that was introduced to comply with an order from the city’s top courtHuman rights groups have accused the Hong Kong government of failing to provide the “bare minimum” of rights to same-sex couples after it rejected a bill that was introduced to comply with an order by the city’s top court.The city’s unicameral legislative council (LegCo), on Wednesday rejected the bill by a vote of 71-14 after the second reading, following months of debate in the city between opponents who said it threatened family values and advocates who said the government was out of line with the majority of residents who supported same-sex relationships. Continue reading...

Politics