Northern Ireland

Britain's Queen Elizabeth, the world's oldest and longest-reigning monarch, celebrated her 91st birthday in a usual low-key fashion on April 21.

Spain is likely to wield a veto over any Brexit deal for Gibraltar after the EU-27 backed Madrid in its draft negotiating guidelines for forthcoming divorce talks between the UK and the bloc.
Gibraltar is a disputed territory, which Britain has held for centuries. For the UK, any Brexit deal would automatically apply to Gibraltar, since it claims it as British territory.

Scotland's Parliament voted Tuesday to seek a new referendum on independence from Britain, clearing the way for the country's first minister, its top lawmaker, to ask the British government to approve such a vote.

Northern Ireland has the right to leave the United Kingdom and join the European Union as part of the Republic after Brexit, ministers have conceded for the first time, writes The Times.

The British government on Monday gave Northern Ireland's squabbling parties extra time to reach a deal to end their stalemate and form a power-sharing executive, after a deadline to do so expired, AFP reported.

"We now have a short window of opportunity," Northern Ireland minister James Brokenshire said in Belfast, adding that the parties had "a short few weeks".

Bulgarian president Rumen Radev sent a letter with his condolences to Her Majesty Elizabeth II, Queen of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, in relation to the terrorist act in London, the press secretariat of the head of state announced.

"With deep sorrow I received the news about the horrific act of terror, which led to the loss of innocent lives," President Radev stated.

Martin McGuinness, the Irish Republican Army (IRA) commander who laid down his arms to become a key architect of Northern Ireland's peace, died on March 21 aged 66, prompting tributes from allies and former enemies alike.

Britain said Monday it will launch the process of leaving the European Union on March 29, setting a historic and uncharted course to become the first country to withdraw from the bloc by March 2019.

British Prime Minister Theresa May must give parliament a vote before she can formally start Britain's exit from the European Union, the U.K. Supreme Court ruled on Jan. 23, giving lawmakers who oppose her Brexit plans a shot at amending them. 

The UK Supreme Court has ruled that the British parliament must vote on whether the procedures for Brexit can start, Tueasday. The judgement means Theresa May cannot begin talks with the EU until MPs and peers give their backing – although this is expected to happen in time for the government’s 31 March deadline.