Fatima Al-Kassab
Appearances
NPR News Now
NPR News: 05-22-2025 5PM EDT
The Chagos Islands were separated from Mauritius in 1965, when Mauritius was still a British colony. Britain then bought the islands for $4 million. A thousand miles away from any mainland, they include the island of Diego Garcia, home to a joint US-UK military base.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 05-22-2025 5PM EDT
Under this deal, all of the other islands are being handed over to Mauritius, but Diego Garcia will stay in British-American hands for 99 years. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said much of what the military base was used for is secret, but... The strategic location of this base... is of the utmost significance to Britain.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 05-22-2025 5PM EDT
Starmer said the base was important for defeating terrorists and reducing risks to British and US servicemen and women. Fatima al-Kassab, NPR News, London.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 03-01-2025 2AM EST
The latest statement from the Vatican says the Pope suffered what it called an isolated episode of bronchospasm, or a breathing crisis early in the afternoon, which led to him vomiting and caused a sudden worsening of his respiratory condition. It meant the 88-year-old had to use an oxygen mask on his nose and mouth to help him breathe.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 03-01-2025 2AM EST
The statement also said the pontiff always remained vigilant and oriented, cooperating with therapeutic maneuvers. This comes after a couple of days in which Vatican statements had described a slight improvement in the Pope's condition. For now, the Vatican says his prognosis remains guarded. Fatima al-Kassab, NPR News, Rome.
Up First from NPR
Mideast Ceasefire Continues, Irish Elections, Texas Politics
So we've got the exit poll which came out last night just as the polls closed and that's given us an indication of the vote share and then vote counting began this morning. The initial suggestion from the exit poll is that Sinn Féin, this is the party that used to be the political wing of the Irish Republican Army... the IRA, has a narrow lead over the two big centre parties.
Up First from NPR
Mideast Ceasefire Continues, Irish Elections, Texas Politics
That's Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil. But it is pretty tight between all three. Turnout also looks to be down on last time. Yesterday was really quite wet and windy. And from the exit poll data, it does look like that affected how many people turned out.
Up First from NPR
Mideast Ceasefire Continues, Irish Elections, Texas Politics
Yeah, so I spoke to voters yesterday outside a polling station in Dublin and they pretty much all said that the biggest issue for them was housing, no matter their age or background. Here's Valerie Shields. Housing is the main issue and there's a lot of families with small children living in guest houses and hotels. And 24-year-old Owen McNeill said the same.
Up First from NPR
Mideast Ceasefire Continues, Irish Elections, Texas Politics
Ireland is actually a very rich country. It's generated a huge income from corporation taxes, which has made it one of the richest in Europe. But people aren't really feeling it. The high cost of living was actually the second biggest issue for voters, according to the exit poll.
Up First from NPR
Mideast Ceasefire Continues, Irish Elections, Texas Politics
Yeah, housing is the issue that's really helped propel Sinn Féin. In fact, commentators here this morning were saying we can even look at the vote for Sinn Féin as a housing vote, a single issue vote. And that's especially true among young voters. Sinn Féin has a lot of support among younger voters. And the party has made big gains in recent years because of its promises on housing.
Up First from NPR
Mideast Ceasefire Continues, Irish Elections, Texas Politics
Whatever happens in the next couple of days, it's clear that the days of Two parties dominating Irish politics are over. Sinn Féin was on the up in the last election in 2020 when it surprised everyone and it won the popular vote. And this time round, it looks like it's confirmed its place at the top with the two traditional parties.
Up First from NPR
Mideast Ceasefire Continues, Irish Elections, Texas Politics
So we're in for a long weekend of counting votes. It's a system of proportional representation, so it could take some time. Full results are expected by the end of the weekend, but it might not be until next week, potentially even in the new year, until we get a government formed. And that's because there needs to be negotiations about forming a coalition. And that can take some time.
Up First from NPR
Mideast Ceasefire Continues, Irish Elections, Texas Politics
The most likely scenario is that even if Sinn Féin wins the most votes, that's what happened last time, the two big parties, these are the traditional parties that have governed Ireland for over a century, Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, will go into coalition again. Although this time the exit poll suggests that their vote share is down.
Up First from NPR
Mideast Ceasefire Continues, Irish Elections, Texas Politics
So it might actually be harder for them to cobble together a majority.