PM survives leadership challenge – but only after agreeing to quit by next election

Safe for now but this is far from the end of Theresa May's problems

Ian Paisley faces second Westminster probe in as many years over unregistered luxury holidays

Health service bosses deny 'culture of silence' at Muckamore in abuse scandal

Allison Morris: Ian Paisley's latest travel adventures reinforce the case for proper accountability in politics

Time to part club and inter-county seasons, suggests Sean Cavanagh

Arts Q&A: Jake O'Kane on Billy Connolly, Paul Simon and Lee Child

Hopes new Jamie Dornan TV drama will ignite interest in historic Co Derry home

Fr Gary Donegan receives honorary degree from Queen's University Belfast

Latest

DUP join with former Brexit ministers to pitch alternative deal

Leo Varadkar says Brexit withdrawal treaty cannot be changed

Colum Eastwood frustrated by Jeremy Corbyn's backstop stance

93-year-old man dies in road crash in Co Armagh

Not so festive window display appears at republican prisoners offices

Second arrest made in connection with Roma exploitation investigation

Brexit

Colum Eastwood frustrated by Jeremy Corbyn's backstop stance

COLUM Eastwood has said he is "bewildered" to hear Jeremy Corbyn reject the backstop element of the withdrawal agreement, while characterising the soft border guarantee as a threat to the union.

Topics

Leo Varadkar says Brexit withdrawal treaty cannot be changed

THE substance of the Brexit withdrawal treaty cannot be changed, the taoiseach has said.
DUP join with former Brexit ministers to pitch alternative deal

ARLENE Foster joined forces with two of Theresa May's former Brexit secretaries yesterday to launch an alternative plan to the government's EU withdrawal agreement.
Safe for now but this is far from the end of Theresa May's problems

Her premiership was always on borrowed time, more of a coronation than a popular appointment, Theresa May's decision to call a disastrous snap election weakened her further.
PM survives leadership challenge – but only after agreeing to quit by next election

CONSERVATIVE leader Theresa May dramatically survived a confidence vote last night after telling her MPs she will not lead the party into the next general election. The secret ballot was triggered by backbenchers after the prime minister deferred putting her...

News

Warrenpoint Port cancels plans to dump dredged material in mouth of Carlingford Lough

WARRENPOINT Port has abandoned plans to dump dredged material near protected areas in Carlingford Lough.

Topics

Language GCSE entries falling as number attending Irish schools increases

THE number of pupils taking Irish GCSE exams is falling at a time when the sector is growing rapidly.
Fr Gary Donegan receives honorary degree from Queen's University Belfast

FATHER Gary Donegan will today be recognised for his outstanding contribution to peace and community work with an honorary degree from Queen's University Belfast.
Colum Eastwood frustrated by Jeremy Corbyn's backstop stance

COLUM Eastwood has said he is "bewildered" to hear Jeremy Corbyn reject the backstop element of the withdrawal agreement, while characterising the soft border guarantee as a threat to the union.
Leo Varadkar says Brexit withdrawal treaty cannot be changed

THE substance of the Brexit withdrawal treaty cannot be changed, the taoiseach has said.

Business

BT's new NI Civil Service deal 'could be worth £400m'

TELECOMS giant BT has secured the contract to provide services to the public sector in Northern Ireland for the next nine years in a deal which could be worth up to £400 million.

Topics

Ballymena factory closure puts one per cent of north's economy up in smoke

THE closure of the former Gallaher's cigarette factory in Ballymena has singularly wiped out nearly one per cent of the north's entire economy, new figures suggest.
Northern Ireland export sales decline in home markets but soar in global regions

EXPORTERS in Northern Ireland sold less into Britain and Europe last year but more in global markets, new figures show.
Northern Ireland housing market continues to outperform rest of UK

NORTHERN Ireland’s housing market continues to do significantly better than other UK regions across all indicators, the latest Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) study has found.
Remortgaging levels jump to decade high amid Brexit uncertainty

REMORTGAGING has reached its highest level in nearly a decade as experts say Brexit uncertainty and cheap loan rates are encouraging borrowers to lock into new deals.

Sport

Back in the day - Dec 13 1998: Damaen Kelly eyes further boxing honours after Commonwealth title win

Back in the day: 20 years ago today.. a look at some of the sports stories making the headlines in The Irish News ...

Topics

Time to part club and inter-county seasons, suggests Sean Cavanagh

FORMER Tyrone captain Sean Cavanagh believes further changes are needed to the GAA calendar – perhaps even completely separating the club and inter-county seasons.
On This Day – December 13, 1977: Former Ireland scrum-half Peter Stringer is born
Celtic's Leigh Griffiths out of football as he seeks "professional help"
On This Day - December 12, 2010: Crossmaglen claim Ulster title with win over Naomh Conaill

Sporting greats, dates and a quick quiz blitz to get you up and running today...

Opinion

Newton Emerson: Time to call a one-off assembly vote on the Brexit backstop?

THERESA May did at least find the gumption in Westminster this Monday to fire a warning shot at the DUP.

Topics

Allison Morris: Ian Paisley's latest travel adventures reinforce the case for proper accountability in politics

I had intended to write this column about something else entirely this week, but then the latest travel adventures of Ian Paisley set me thinking.
Ian Paisley must be completely open about Maldives holiday

Only a matter of days after returning from a record suspension from the House of Commons, Ian Paisley once again finds himself under scrutiny over yet another lavish family holiday which he has failed to declare to parliamentary authorities.
Anger over west Belfast alert

It is appalling that hundreds of people were forced out of their homes on the outskirts of west Belfast during cold and wet weather in the run-up to Christmas because of a security alert.
Regardless how Brexit plays out the GFA remains sacrosanct

Theresa May has been on a whirlwind trip visiting regions of the union in an effort to sell her Brexit deal, however, this charm offensive appears to be futile as it looks increasingly unlikely that it will survive the wrath from her own MPs.

Magazine

Top dogs Borris and Sadie win pet slimmer of the year award

Both dogs shed 25% of their body weight to share the crown in an annual competition by vet charity PDSA.

Topics

Licence fee concern as EastEnders set refurb to cost millions more than planned

Reconstruction of the soap opera set is forecast to cost the public broadcaster £86 million in total.
Miley Cyrus praises Liam Hemsworth and hints at Black Mirror appearance

Cyrus appeared on Howard Stern's radio show.
David Dimbleby to host last episode of Question Time amid Brexit chaos

The veteran presenter will be replaced by Fiona Bruce.
Richard E Grant hails Timothee Chalamet as a ‘gift to the world'

The pair are both nominated in the same category at the Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Life

Thomas Merton - a monk for all seasons

THIS week marks the 50th anniversary of the death of Thomas Merton, one of the greatest Christian writers of the 20th century.

Topics

Messy meditation: The joy of reflected light

ONCE a child was heard correcting an adult who had said that the moon had been shining brightly the night before.
Game of Thrones: The Touring Exhibition set for Belfast

CALL your bannermen, because the official Game of Thrones: The Touring Exhibition is making its debut visit to Britain and Ireland next year at Titanic Exhibition Centre in Belfast.
Property: A home of unparalleled charm

A stunning family home in an area of unparalleled beauty and charm
Bagatelle's Ken Doyle: I'll rock till I drop – but hopefully that won't be any time soon

1 Up and at it – what is your morning routine? I usually wake at about 8am and turn on the radio to hear if we still have a world, while reading the paper (on my phone) at the same time.

Arts

Artist Andrew Whitson finds Inner Peace thanks to book project with Belfast kids

FROM painting heavy metal album covers on the back of denim jackets to playing in an Irish language reggae band, to working as a labourer in New York – Belfast artist Andrew Whitson has led a life as richly hued as his Irish mythology canvases.

Topics

Arts Q&A: Jake O'Kane on Billy Connolly, Paul Simon and Lee Child

1. When did you think about a career in comedy and what were your first steps into it? Career? I've never looked at comedy as a career as my lack of a comedy career demonstrates.
Book reviews: George RR Martin, Stephen Fry, The Snowman, Diary Of A Wimpy Kid

FICTION Heroes by Stephen Fry is published in hardback by Michael Joseph, priced £20 (ebook £9.
Lauren Child on new Mary Poppins: We are asking children to be grown up too early

EMILY Blunt may be bringing a new Mary Poppins to the big screen, but in the eyes of author-illustrator and children's laureate Lauren Child, Julie Andrews will always be the public's favourite nanny.
Alumini concerts mark 25 years of the Ulster Youth Orchestra

RENOWNED Irish pianist and Ulster Youth Orchestra patron Michael McHale, headlines a special UYO alumni concert at the end of the month.

Omagh bombing

Mother of Omagh bombing victim Aiden Gallagher breaks silence in emotional letter backing Nuala O'Loan

THE mother of Omagh bombing victim Aiden Gallagher has spoken publicly for the first time since his death 20 years ago to praise a former Police Ombudsman’s comment that the atrocity could have been prevented.

Topics

Omagh bombing victim's husband 'flabbergasted' by former police ombudsman's claim

FORMER police ombudsman Nuala O'Loan has been criticised by the husband of an Omagh bomb victim for claiming that the atrocity was preventable.
Nationalist commentator criticised for Omagh bomb comments

A nationalist commentator has been criticised for making "absolutely despicable "comments in relation to the Omagh bomb after he said those killed were not murdered.
Video: Omagh remembers its dead

A BELL has tolled 32 times in Omagh at ceremony to remember those who lost their lives in the bombing 20 years ago today.
Nuala O'Loan says Omagh bomb could have been prevented

A FORMER policing watchdog who investigated the Omagh bombing has said it could have been prevented.

Pope's visit

Lasting souvenir of Papal visit Ireland with release of a commemorative book

PILGRIMS can now have a lasting souvenir of the historic Papal visit to Dublin, Knock and the World Meeting of Families (WMOF) with the release of a commemorative book.

Topics

Film reveals effect of Pope John Paul II's visit to Republic

A new documentary highlights the effect Pope John Paul ll's visit to the Republic in 1979 had on the peace process.
Pope Francis 'tasted pain and bitterness' of abuse during Irish visit

POPE Francis has lamented how Irish church authorities failed to respond to the crimes of sexual abuse, speaking during his first public appearance at the Vatican after accusations that he himself covered up for a former US cardinal.
ANALYSIS: DUP has yet to give an adequate explanation for Papal snub

It's important that people respect Arlene Foster's decision not to attend Saturday's civic reception for Pope Francis in Dublin Castle.
From Rome to Croke Park in 12 hours with Pope Francis

'UNGODLY hour' might not be the correct term when you are about to fly with the Pope, but it well describes the 3.45am alarm call that woke me on Saturday after a couple of hours' restless sleep.

Civil Rights

Stormont discrimination of Catholics 'hugely exaggerated' says David Trimble's ex-aide

A FORMER adviser to ex-First Minister David Trimble has claimed discrimination against Catholics by Stormont before the civil rights movement has been "hugely exaggerated".

Topics

Fionnuala O Connor: Press reports from 1968 show unionist leaders unable to grasp what was happening

RUC men on that Saturday fifty years ago blattered their way into history on camera, leaving newsprint catching-up as the Troubles, and the next week, began.
Leona O'Neill: Those who commemorate the IRA are no champions of civil rights in my eyes

WE’VE just come out of a weekend that marked probably one of the most important moments in Northern Ireland’s history, the birth of the civil rights movement.
Deaglán de Bréadún: Where is the Bernadette Devlin of today to give voice to nationalists at Westminster?

IF YOU are an Irish nationalist or republican or simply a person who believes in resisting oppression, you probably need cheering-up under current circumstances.
Ulster Unionist peer had to walk through Sinn Féin rally

Ken Maginnis, the County Tyrone peer, found himself in the middle of a Sinn Féin rally in Derry on Saturday.

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