Brexit crisis pushes N Ireland to brink of new election

Northern Ireland politicians will make a last-ditch attempt Thursday to break a political impasse triggered by Brexit that has stopped the formation of a functioning government in Belfast. If they fail, the U.K. government says it will call a new election for Northern Ireland on Friday.
Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly will meet to try to elect a speaker – the first step toward restoring a power-sharing government that has been on ice since a May election. The main British unionist body, the Democratic Unionist Party, says it will veto the move as part of its protest over post-Brexit customs checks.
If no executive is in place by early Friday, there will be an election, which could break the political deadlock but would definitely bring more uncertainty.