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# explainer - Tuesday 22 October, 2019

Explainer: Why can't same-sex couples in Northern Ireland get married until next year?

The first ceremonies could take place on the week of Valentine’s Day 2020.

# explainer - Monday 21 October, 2019

Explainer: Is Boris Johnson's Brexit deal already dead? Doa This post contains videos

Explainer: Is Boris Johnson's Brexit deal already dead?

There was no meaningful vote on it today, so what happens next?

# explainer - Thursday 17 October, 2019

Explainer: Where has the Northern Ireland backstop gone?

After almost two years of back-and-forth, a new Brexit withdrawal deal was agreed today.

# explainer - Friday 11 October, 2019

# explainer - Thursday 10 October, 2019

Explainer: As Turkey attacks and Trump watches on, who are the Kurds and why are they in the middle? Syria This post contains videos


The US made the surprise decision to pull troops out of northern Syria, leaving Turkey to enter.

# explainer - Wednesday 25 September, 2019

Here's why a phone call between Trump and the Ukrainian president has led to impeachment proceedings

An impeachment inquiry of Donald Trump has been launched by Democrats.

# explainer - Monday 23 September, 2019

Explainer: How did Thomas Cook go under?

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said bailing out the company, which employed 22,000 people globally, would set up a “moral hazard”.

# explainer - Tuesday 17 September, 2019

'Make Israel normal again': The stakes are high for Netanyahu in an unprecedented election

It’s the first time in Israeli history that two elections will be held in one year.

# explainer - Sunday 15 September, 2019

Explainer: A tropical subject ... Could typhoons affect the upcoming Rugby World Cup?

The disruption caused in Tokyo on Monday by a typhoon has ignited questions about contingency planning.

# explainer - Wednesday 11 September, 2019

A Scottish court declared prorogation unlawful - so what happens next?

All eyes are now on an appeal to the UK Supreme Court.

# explainer - Friday 6 September, 2019

The Explainer: Who is Dominic Cummings?

In this week’s episode of The Explainer,

# explainer - Thursday 5 September, 2019

What's next for M&S after the British company fell out of the FTSE 100?

This is the first time M&S has not been a FTSE 100 member since 1984.

Bill to delay Brexit will pass through House of Lords tomorrow. What then?

There are 56 days until the current Brexit deadline.

# explainer - Sunday 1 September, 2019

Explainer: The British parliament is being prorogued - but could the queen have refused?

Rory Stewart said before that if parliament was prorogued, he would help organise an alternative parliament.

Explainer: What will happen to EU citizens living in the UK after 31 October?

Concerns have been raised about the impact a no-deal Brexit could have on the status of European citizens living in Britain.

# explainer - Tuesday 27 August, 2019

Explainer: Why a US court ruling could be a turning point in one of the country's worst-ever drug epidemics

A landmark ruling against Johnson & Johnson was made in Oklahoma yesterday.

# explainer - Sunday 25 August, 2019

Explainer: What happened to the personal injuries register and why has it been shelved?

Legislation was brought in 15 years ago which provided for a personal injuries register but it never happened.

# explainer - Saturday 17 August, 2019

Circle the date ... Here's why 9 September is set to be a red letter Brexit day in Westminster

It’s all set to kick off again in the Commons from the start of next month – here are the key dates.

# explainer - Wednesday 14 August, 2019

How escalating tensions in Hong Kong have brought one of the world's busiest airports to a standstill

Tensions have been simmering for months in Hong Kong, sparked by a proposed extradition bill with China.

# explainer - Sunday 11 August, 2019

Battle of the Bogside: It's 50 years since the community riot that changed Ireland

In August 1969, the people of the city’s Bogside area erected barricades to prevent the RUC entering.

Explainer: The HPV vaccine is free for boys from next month - here's why that's important

Over 500 cases of cancer associated with the HPV infection are diagnosed every year in Ireland.

# explainer - Saturday 10 August, 2019

Explainer: Why is there controversy over the new Central Bank governor?

It all stems from a leak of New Zealand’s budget earlier this year.

# explainer - Wednesday 7 August, 2019

Explainer: Why has Kashmir lost its special status and what now for the contested Indian region?

Once a territory of the British empire, Jammu and Kashmir chose to join India over Pakistan in 1947.

# explainer - Friday 2 August, 2019

The Explainer: What is Fortnite and how can people make money from it?

On this week’s episode, we delve into the world of Fortnite and esports.

Cast-iron and vital, or an anti-democratic bureaucracy: what is the Irish backstop?

Should it be for a limited period of time or not? Should it apply to the UK as a whole, or just Northern Ireland?

# explainer - Thursday 1 August, 2019

Explainer: Why have beef farmers across the country been protesting in recent weeks?

The Irish Farmers’ Association has said the Irish and European beef sectors are “in crisis”.

# explainer - Tuesday 23 July, 2019

Explainer: Why are thousands of protesters calling for Puerto Rico's governor to resign?

Messages from a leaked Telegram group revealed alleged homophobic and sexist messages from Governor Ricardo Rossello.

'Malice, incompetence, negligence': How false claims about historical sex abuse in UK sparked '£2 million probe'

Carl Beech was found guilty of perverting the course of justice yesterday over sex abuse claims against senior UK politicians.

# explainer - Monday 22 July, 2019

Explainer: Why did Iran seize a British oil tanker and the 23 crew members on board?

In video footage released by an Iranian news agency, masked soldiers are seen travelling down a rope and into the tanker.

# explainer - Friday 19 July, 2019

The Explainer: Why was there such controversy over Lizzo’s ticket sales?

Why did Lizzo tickets sell out so fast – and what’s happening with ticket reselling legislation?

# explainer - Sunday 14 July, 2019

What is Gatt 24, the 'loophole' cited by Boris Johnson against no-deal Brexit tariffs?

Things have become a little clearer on what would happen if there’s a no-deal Brexit, after the director of the WTO weighed into the debate.

# explainer - Saturday 13 July, 2019

Explainer: The minister, the understaffed Naval Service and the 'young fellas caught up in the middle'

The dispute comes after a decision was made to take two vessels out of operation, leading to various claims and rows in the Dáil.

# explainer - Thursday 11 July, 2019

Explainer: Could Britain's next PM 'lock the doors of parliament' to force Brexit through?

It’s a question of ‘prorogation’, but what does that mean?

'The DUP didn't want this, but some will be relieved': What happens now in Northern Ireland?

These votes have been a long-time coming – but make the return of power-sharing much less likely.

# explainer - Sunday 7 July, 2019

Explainer: Minimum unit pricing for alcohol is on the way, but how exactly does it work?

Cheaper drinks with a high alcohol content will see the biggest price change.

# explainer - Tuesday 2 July, 2019

What are the rules on dress codes and banners in the European Parliament? First Day Of School This post contains videos


Irish MEPs Clare Daly and Mick Wallace both wore ‘Free Assange’ t-shirts today, so is this allowed?

Why are leaders deadlocked over the top EU jobs - and who's in the running?

European leaders showed frustration as they entered a third day of discussions on who should fill the EU’s top jobs.

From The42 Explainer: Here's how the 2019 TG4 All-Ireland senior championship is shaping up State Of Play This post contains a poll


The groups are all but finalised, and we’re almost ready for the road to Croker.

# explainer - Monday 1 July, 2019



Explainer: The new rules on Airbnb hosting come into effect today - here's what you need to know

These regulations mean a number of new rules – and potential penalties – for those affected by them.