Fatima Al-Kassab

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Thanks, Scott.

Thanks, Scott.

Thanks, Scott.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.