Irish border dispute still a big hurdle ahead of Brexit summit

LUXEMBOURG — The moods in Britain and the European Union swung between hope and gloom Monday over an intractable dispute about the Irish border — shifts that came two days ahead of a summit once seen as the last moment to reach a deal on Britain’s divorce from the bloc.

After a flurry of weekend meetings had raised expectations for a Brexit agreement only to dash them again, EU and British leaders sought to keep alive the possibility that Wednesday’s summit could see a Brexit breakthrough.

After a year and a half of talks aimed at a smooth breakup, both sides were still dogged by the same issue — how to ensure that no hard border is created between the EU’s Ireland and Britain’s Northern Ireland once Brexit happens March 29.

Hawking’s posthumous warning: Science at risk

LONDON — Physicist book “Brief Answers To and that includes Stephen Hawking spoke The Big Questions.” scientists.” from beyond the grave Hawking warned that Acknowledging that science Monday to warn the world education and science are had yet to overcome that science and education “in danger now more than major challenges, including are under threat around the ever before.” He cited the climate change, overpopulation world. election of U.S. President and the degradation

The words of the scientist, Donald Trump and Britain’s of the oceans, he still urged who died in March at 2016 vote to leave the young people “to look up at 76, were broadcast at a European Union as part of the stars and not down at launch event for his final “a global revolt against experts your feet.” In Russia: The Russian Orthodox Church severed ties with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, leader of the worldwide Orthodox community, after he granted Ukrainian clerics independence from the Moscow Patriarchate. The Ukraine church has been under the jurisdiction of the Russian church since the 1600s.