Northern Ireland

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".

Rioting erupted in Belfast during the annual Orange Order parade as police tried to block Protestant marchers from passing a Catholic housing estate, a return of the sectarian violence that has marred the traditionally emotive event in the past. 

Giants, dragons and vengeful queens have for generations populated Northern Ireland's folk tales. Now, such creatures are visiting the land in a different version - on the sets for the hit TV show "Game of Thrones." But rather than spells and destruction, they're bringing an economic boost to this British province still healing from its past of political violence.
     

Irish President Michael D Higgins has arrived to the UK on the first official state visit by an Irish head of state, Tuesday.

The four-day trip, which comes three years after the Queen visited Ireland, includes an address to Parliament and a focus on the contribution Irish emigrants have made to UK life, The Guardian reports.

Police in Greece say they have destroyed a bomb by controlled explosion outside a tax office in western Athens, following overnight warning calls to a television station and news website. There was no damage or injuries.