N Ireland liberalizes restrictive laws

Same-sex marriage and abortion laws in Northern Ireland were liberalised on Monday in a landmark shift for the province aimed at bringing it into line with mainland Britain. The relaxtion of the UK-ruled territory’s restrictive laws on the issues occurred at midnight (2300 GMT), after a deadline elapsed for local lawmakers to stop the changes imposed by MPs in Westminster in July. Abortion and same-sex marriage are legal in England, Wales and Scotland.