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Proliferation of Israeli settlements inhibiting Palestinian state says Barack Obama in final interview as US president

Sean Cronin out with hamstring injury

How RHI crisis caused a political firestorm

Stormont in crisis: Issues polarising the DUP and Sinn Féin

Ban on gay men donating blood is lifted in Republic

Boris Johnson: Trump's pledge of rapid trade agreement with Britain after Brexit very good news

News

Convicted child sex abuser avoids jail after admitting attack on altar boy at Clonard Novena

A MAN who sexually abused an altar boy whilst volunteering at the Clonard Novena was spared jail yesterday after admitting offences at Belfast Crown Court.

Topics

How RHI crisis caused a political firestorm

Here are the key events in the "cash for ash" scandal which looks set to lead to a snap Assembly election
Stormont in crisis: Issues polarising the DUP and Sinn Féin

After the impending elections, a ministerial Executive must be formed within weeks or another poll or crisis talks will be triggered.
Ban on gay men donating blood is lifted in Republic

THE lifetime ban on gay men donating blood has been lifted in the Republic.
Boris Johnson: Trump's pledge of rapid trade agreement with Britain after Brexit very good news

DONALD Trump's pledge to work to secure a rapid trade agreement with Britain after Brexit is "very good news", Boris Johnson has said.

Sport

Rory McIlroy withdraws from Abu Dhabi Championship

RORY McIlroy has been forced to withdraw from this week's Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship with a rib injury.

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Rory McIlroy

Sean Cronin out with hamstring injury

LEINSTER expect hooker Sean Cronin to be out for 10 weeks with a hamstring injury, ruling him out of the RBS 6 Nations.
GAA launch next stage of pioneering project to transform Ireland's GAA clubs into ground-breaking healthy hubs
This may just be the weirdest match report you've ever read

You’re going to expect more from your club’s match reports after reading this.
Ulster sign Springbok international to bolster back row

Botha will join at the end of the current Super Rugby campaign.

Business

House prices in the Republic of Ireland leap with west showing biggest rise

House prices are continuing to rise at a rate of almost nine per cent a year, latest official figures show.

Topics

House prices

Parental warning: your kids will cost you a (large) fortune

IF you have children, especially ones about to enter third-level education, this article is essential reading.
Couples miss out on marriage tax break

QUESTION: I have read that I can get a £432 tax break from HMRC for being married.
Give yourself a (tax) break and help pay for that festive splurge

WITH this being Blue Monday (which I wrote about last week), and those Christmas credit card bills coming through, who would turn down the opportunity to get back a wad of cash from the taxman? Nobody, I hear you all reply.
Political uncertainty casts heavy shadow on positive retail results

THE north's political impasse seem certain to cast a shadow over people's shopping patterns and push prices up in shops and supermarkets, a leading retailer analysis believes.

Opinion

Deaglán de Bréadún: Sinn Fein in government north and south would herald new political dynamic

WE may not have constitutional unity on this island but in political terms it is a single playing-field, with two games taking place at different ends of the pitch.

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Tom Kelly: We could do with someone like Mo Mowlam to sort out Stormont

AS I tidied up my bookshelves to make way for my Christmas haul of literature, a hard backed Passionist Mass bouquet fell out.
Chris Donnelly: Sinn Fein also faces hard questions in wake of power-sharing collapse

The collapse of the power-sharing executive and rapid deterioration in the relationship between the governing partners might have been triggered by the appalling manner in which the DUP handled the unfolding of the RHI scandal, but the root cause relates to the DUP’s hostility to the notion of genuine partnership and the nature of the power relationship between the two governing political parties.
DUP need to demonstrate genuine regard for fairness and equality

On this significant day in the history of our political institutions, it is important to reflect on the decisions and attitudes that have fed this crisis and effectively brought down the power-sharing administration in Northern Ireland.
‘Angloid' jingoism gone mad

They say you can’t eat a flag, yet you can shove it down people’s throats. Since the Scottish independence referendum and the recent Brexit vote ‘angloid’ jingoism seems to have gone mad. The Union Jack seems everywhere, especially on foodstuff packaging. Supermarket chains make it difficult for those of us who, on principle, refuse to buy goods contaminated by the ‘butcher’s apron’.

Magazine

Identity of Hollyoaks' latest victim is revealed in shocking episode

Fans were shocked to see one of the characters culled in such brutal fashion.

Topics

London tickets for musical Hamilton priced at £3,000 on re-sale sites

Priority seats for the show – which has been a smash hit in the US – became available on Monday.
Woody Harrelson thrilled to join 'amazing world' of Star Wars

The star said he just wants to make good movies.
Dakota Fanning lands role in TV period thriller

The movie star is to play a police secretary on the small screen.
Valtteri Bottas: Why did Mercedes want him and can he challenge new team mate Lewis Hamilton?

Mercedes have a new driver, and his name is Valtteri Bottas.

Life

It's not for the squeamish: Channel 4 to air live colonoscopy

The ad will air on Wednesday.

Topics

Gewn Montgomery: The art of decluttering your home

I AM a hoarder. I've always tried to deny it, but now that I've admitted it I am determined 2017 is the year I'm going to tackle it and declutter my home.
Save pounds while losing them

- WATCHING your diet after festive overindulgence? Eurospar has the following items for half price until January 29: Kellogg's Special K 750g (now £1.
FASHION: January blues – it's time to snuggle up in style

COLD days, long nights and the post-Christmas slump create the perfect storm right about now, and make spending nights and weekends snuggled up on the sofa more appealing than ever.
Americans blown away by May McFettridge and her home town

LAST week I was delighted to meet two visitors to Belfast as they waited for a tour of the City Hall.