Free Republic

The Prime Minister is facing his biggest backbench rebellion to date over his plan to introduce compulsory vaccine passports from September. Conservative backbenchers were left outraged when Mr Johnson confirmed last night his intention to make Covid vaccines necessary for entry to nightclubs. The announcement caught MPs off guard, with the plans sprung on the public unexpectedly. Ministers had previously ruled out introducing any form of passporting for domestic events but U-turned last week saying proof of two jabs, a negative test, or natural antibodies was recommended for large, indoor gatherings. Yesterday Mr Johnson went further by saying proof of...

THE Grand Master of the Scottish Orange Order yesterday revealed he had rewritten much of the organisation's founding document in a bid to tone down its anti-Catholic sentiments. Ian Wilson says he is staging a campaign to improve the order's public image. He says while the society is proud of its Protestant base, he does not want it to be seen as anti-Catholic. And he has revealed he is seeking approval of the order's members to allow them to attend Catholic funeral Masses. Mr Wilson said: "I have no issues with the Orange Order's Protestant credentials, but what has to...

DENVER -- Denver Nuggets star Carmelo Anthony is featured in an underground DVD that is circulating in his home town of Baltimore, Md. The DVD is called "Stop Snitching" and shows alleged drug dealers talking about what happens to people who cooperate with the police, and Anthony is standing next to one of them. He is also seen on the DVD talking about his Olympic bronze medal and saying that he threw it in a lake. The man he stands next to later goes on to tell how he would take care of snitches by "putting a hole in their...

Around 300 protestors, who opposed the planned loyalist 'Love Ulster' march, have clashed with gardaí in Dublin city centre. Rocks, bottles, planks of wood and firecrackers were thrown as gardaí, photographers and journalists came under attack. The Garda Riot Squad are still in attendance and a total of 37 people have been arrested. They are being held at Store Street and Pearse Street garda stations. Fourteen people, including six gardaí, have been injured and are being treated in hospital. Skirmishes were reported on O'Connell Bridge and Aston Quay and there was a stand-off for a time on Fleet Street. Loyalist...

The US government took the unusual step of accusing Northern Ireland's mainstream unionist parties of an "abdication of responsibility" towards the weekend violence that saw loyalist gunmen shooting live rounds at police officers in some of the worst unrest in years. Fifty officers were injured and 400 plastic bullets were fired by police as they attempted to quell the demonstration. Without identifying any party by name, Mitchell Reiss, George W. Bush's special envoy on Northern Ireland, said: "No political party, and certainly no responsible political leadership, deserves to serve in a government unless it co-operates and supports fully and unconditionally...

<p>It took Carmelo Anthony just one season to lift Syracuse to the promised land. Led by its fabulous freshman, Syracuse won its first national title with a thrilling 81-78 win over Kansas on Monday. The Orangeman built an early 18-point lead, then held on behind Anthony's 20 points to extend the misery of Roy Williams and the Jayhawks.</p>

Only one top seed is heading to New Orleans. South No. 1 Texas beat Michigan State 85-76 for its first Final Four trip in 56 years. Earlier Sunday, Syracuse used its zone to squeeze out top-seeded Oklahoma 63-47 in the East regional final.