Warning of 'long and difficult' path ahead until population is vaccinated

Republic due to roll-out coronavirus vaccination programme in the new year

Analysis: With the end in reach, political messaging on vaccines has never been more important

British government's 'inept' handling of north in Brexit negotiations 'has put united Ireland centre stage'

Allison Morris: Victims have been pitted against victims in some grotesque, gladiatorial arena of public opinion

'I was still very pale, I'd no hair... it was strange enough': Cavan's Oisin Kiernan ready to face Dubs again

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom: Chadwick Boseman shines in his final screen role

Covid rekindles anxiety for people in Northern Ireland who are living with HIV

I'm A Celebrity catch up

Latest

Martin Henry: The Immaculate Conception and its significance

Brandon Lewis faces calls to apologise to Troubles victims

Sinn Féin TD Brian Stanley says he is 'genuinely sorry' for controversial social media post

Stena Line takes delivery of third Chinese-built vessel for Irish Sea operation

Belfast firms pocket cash prizes at InterTradeIreland's Seedcorn Awards

Grim week for retail continues as Bonmarché plunges into administration again

Coronavirus

Covid can't cancel Christmas

When governments talk of a 'normal' Christmas, the celebration of Christ's birth is not foremost in their mind, writes Diarmuid Pepper

Topics

Covid-19: £10m scheme for newly-self employed will pay initial grant of £3,500

NEWLY self-employed workers in the north will be able to apply for a £3,500 grant under a new £10 million scheme
Healthcare workers, care home residents and over 80s in first vaccination group

Northern Ireland faces a "long and difficult" path until enough people have been vaccinated for Covid-19, Health Minister Robin Swann hsa warned.
1,300 healthcare workers vaccinated daily at one centre

One of Northern Ireland's mass vaccination centres is planning to administer vaccines to 1,300 frontline workers a day.
Man charged with Covid-19 breach after refusing to shut gym

A MAN has appeared in court accused of breaching Covid-19 regulations after he refused to close his gym.

News

Fr Stephen Kearney: Cleric's natural warmth and empathy won love of parishioners across Derry, Donegal and native Tyrone

FR Stephen Kearney could be described as a builder, farmer, photographer, comic actor, naturalist, apiarist, counsellor, a lover of people.

Topics

Fr Stephen Kearney

New evidence about McGurk's Bar bombing to be revealed

CRITICAL new evidence suggesting the McGurk's Bar bombing was "foreknown and preventable" is to be made public during an online commemoration.
One man's battle to clear his name after 10 years in jail for a crime in didn't commit

A WEST Belfast man who spent ten years in jail for offences he did not commit has told of the almost life-long battle to clear his name.
Stroke survivor whose daughter suffered strokes after birth backs Christmas charity appeal

A STROKE survivor whose daughter also suffered three strokes minutes after birth has appealed to people to support a charity that has helped them rebuild their lives.
People struggling with debt due to pandemic 'should seek help now'

PEOPLE struggling with debt due to the coronavirus pandemic must get help now, a leading anti-poverty charity has warned.

Business

AIB confirms plan to cut 1,500 staff will not affect northern workforce

AIB has confirmed that its plans to cut 1,500 jobs and restructure its business by 2023 will not affect the former First Trust network in the north.

Topics

Belfast firms pocket cash prizes at InterTradeIreland's Seedcorn Awards

BELFAST firm GenoME Diagnostics has pocketed a cash prize of €50,000 after being named ‘best new start’ at the InterTradeIreland Seedcorn Investor Readiness Competition on Wednesday.
Co Tyrone based North-West News Group acquires Belfast printing firm Kaizen

OMAGH-based newspaper publisher the North-West News Group (NWNG) has announced the acquisition of Belfast-based Kaizen Print.
Stena Line takes delivery of third Chinese-built vessel for Irish Sea operation

STENA Line has taken ownership of its latest Chinese-built ferry for its Irish Sea operation.
Grim week for retail continues as Bonmarché plunges into administration again

VALUE women's clothing chain Bonmarché has collapsed into administration for the second time in just over a year, putting dozens more retail jobs under threat in the north.

Sport

Liatroim's long-serving Karen McMullan thrilled to be back with Down camogie

Liberty Insurance All-Ireland Intermediate final Saturday 5th December 3.

Topics

Armagh camog Rachael aiming to make Merry against Cavan

Armagh camogie's joint-captain Rachael Merry is aiming for a better outcome this weekend in the All-Ireland Premier Junior Final.
Tyrone's Joe McMahon flags up split season concerns

TYRONE'S Joe McMahon has warned of the possible pitfalls of putting club football first in a 2021 split season.
Cavan coming up against Gaelic football 'Maradonas' in Dublin

Maradona was the greatest ever player.
Ulster GAA chief Brian McAvoy calms vaccine expectations

ULSTER GAA chief Brian McAvoy has warned against hyping up expectations of sports re-opening quickly following yesterday's dramatic announcement that the British Government had become the first to give approval to a Covid19 vaccine.

Opinion

Allison Morris: Victims have been pitted against victims in some grotesque, gladiatorial arena of public opinion

This has been a very difficult week for so many people.

Topics

Newton Emerson: How will Stormont cope when Brexit hands over control of agricultural policy?

In 2003 the EU decided to scrap its notoriously complicated farm subsidy regime - the archetypal ‘Brussels red tape’ that had driven British Euroscepticism for decades - and replace it with one simple annual payment per hectare, whatever the farmer is doing on that land.
Vaccine approval offers a way out of Covid nightmare

The announcement yesterday morning that the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine has been approved for use in the UK is hugely positive news and offers real hope that the virus that has blighted all our lives could finally be brought under control.
Flagship scheme will remain mired in controversy long after completion

Welcome as it is to hard-pressed commuters, can the opening of two lanes of the A6 through an environmentally and culturally rich landscape (Irish News November 25) justify the means?
Deaglán de Bréadún: Unionists issue doom-laden warnings as Brexit date looms

IN normal times, an alcohol-enhanced Christmas quiz would be a fairly common occurrence.

Magazine

Film industry is scared of taking risks, says Blue Story producer

Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor is currently serving as a jury member for the 16 Days 16 Films festival.

Topics

Isla Fisher: We need to rethink the negative stereotypes in fairytales

The actress stars in the new Disney movie Godmothered.
Previously unreleased Britney Spears song arrives on singer's birthday

Swimming In the Stars is available to stream now.
Eddie Van Halen guitars sold at auction following rocker's death

He died in October aged 65.
Black Lives Matter tops ArtReview Power 100 list

It is the first time a movement has topped the annual ranking.

Life

Martin Henry: The Immaculate Conception and its significance

Ahead of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, Fr Martin Henry considers the origins of the dogma and how it reflects an essential element of the Catholic faith

Topics

Ask the GP: Night sweats are wrecking my sleep and making me depressed

Q: I AM 71 and started the menopause aged 47 but, 10 years ago, I developed night sweats that cause me to wake each hour with sweat dripping off my nose and joints.
Covid can't cancel Christmas

When governments talk of a 'normal' Christmas, the celebration of Christ's birth is not foremost in their mind, writes Diarmuid Pepper
Professor Green: Solving my gut problems did wonders for my mental health

PROFESSOR Green is so eloquent and informed, you could be forgiven for thinking the ‘Professor' title was a genuine academic qualification, rather than just a stage name (his real name's Stephen Manderson).
11 of the best Christmas gifts for fitness lovers

FINDING the perfect Christmas gift for a loved one isn’t always easy – but if they’re a keen gym junkie, runner or fitness fan, chances are they’ll always appreciate unwrapping something exercise-related.

Arts

New to watch on demand: Mank, Babyteeth, Pinocchio, Perry Mason and more...

FILM OF THE WEEK MANK (Cert 12, 131 mins, streaming from December 4 exclusively on Netflix, Drama/Romance) Starring: Gary Oldman, Amanda Seyfried, Tom Pelphrey, Lily Collins, Monika Gossman, Tom Burke, Charles Dance, Arliss Howard, Ferdinand Kingsley.

Topics

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom: Chadwick Boseman shines in his final screen role

MA RAINEY'S BLACK BOTTOM (15, 94 mins) Drama/Musical/Romance.
Dinnseanchas agus Seanfhocal - an Irish place-name and a proverb
Fathach cúig troithe agus ceithre horlaí agus anam a thíre dúchais
Bounce Arts Festival runs from December 4-6

ONE of Northern Ireland’s most diverse arts festivals will get underway at the weekend.

Brexit

British government has 'unlimited disregard' for Good Friday Agreement

The British Government appears to have an "unlimited disregard" for the Good Friday Agreement, it has been suggested.

Topics

'Chaotic' Brexit transition could see businesses face €1.5 billion costs

The food and drink industry could face "unbearable" additional costs of €1.5 billion if a deal is not reached between the EU and the UK, an Oireachtas committee has been told.
Time to stop the blame game and get Brexit deal done – Simon Coveney

A post-Brexit trade deal is possible this week, with both sides aware of the “costly and disruptive” consequences of failure, the Republic of Ireland’s foreign minister has said.
Peter Robinson believes British government will put 'best interests of English Tories' ahead of north

PETER Robinson believes the British government will put the "best interests of English Tories" ahead of any concern for Northern Ireland in its Brexit negotiations with the EU.
One in three freight firms have made `little or no progress' preparing for Brexit changes

ALMOST a third of freight firms have made "little or no progress" preparing for logistics and transportation after Brexit, with the entire industry concerned "about how imports from Northern Ireland will work".

Today's horoscope

See a different horoscope:

Assembly Election 2017

Explore the election results