The Lightbody Foundation gave the donation to People’s Kitchen Belfast, which the organisation said “will allow us to continue to offer all our services particularly during the winter months and at a time when we are under extreme pressure”. A total of 72 people were estimated to be rough sleeping in Northern Ireland representing a 60% increase from the 2023 figure of 45, according to the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. In a statement on the foundation’s website Lightbody has said the charity “has no remit”. “Mental health, education, music, dementia, sport, cancer and disease research and many other things… I don’t want to narrow our focus. “The focus is Northern Ireland, countrywide.

UK snow: Met Office forecasts up to 11 INCHES of the white stuff amid Arctic blastThe Met Office says temperatures are set to plunge due to a "gale force northerly wind," the nature of which will lead to significant drifting of snow throughout FridayView 4 Images Snow — significant in places — is forecast during the cold snap (Image: PA)Heavy snow is forecast for the majority of the UK in the coming days. The weather agency also understands snow is likely as far south as Kent by Saturday, as a "gale force northerly wind" is set to take hold. ‌A weather warning for snow and ice has been issued for New Year's Day and Friday, during which up to 11 inches (30 cm) of snow could accumulate. Referencing this, the Met Office website reads: "Showers will turn increasingly to snow through Thursday as a strong, perhaps locally gale force northerly wind sets in. The northerly wind, strong enough to reach gale levels, will take force from New Year's Day evening.

Former Athlone Town forward Dylan Gavin, now playing for St Peter's FC, could come up against his old club at the end of January. Details confirmed for match-up of Athlone soccer rivalsA date has been confirmed for the upcoming Leinster Senior Cup Group A meeting of two local sides, Athlone Town FC and St Peter's FC. With local pride on the line, the match is set to take place at the Athlone Town Stadium on Friday, January 30 at 7,45pm. League of Ireland First Division side Athlone Town will also take on Shelbourne (away, date tbc) and Dundalk on Saturday, January 24 (Athlone Town Stadium). St Peter's, meanwhile, will play both their other group games at home in McCarthy Park - against Dundalk on Sunday, January 11 (1pm) and Shelbourne on Sunday, January 18 (1pm).

In 1972, Athlone Golf Club proudly unveiled its new clubhouse at the renowned Hodson Bay, commanding breathtaking views over the River Shannon and Lough Ree. The former clubhouse had been located close to the shores of Lough Ree, on land that now forms the 16th tee. The clubhouse was officially opened on August 28th, 1972, by Mr. W. Montgomery, President of the Golfing Union of Ireland. The 1972 men's committee included Aidan O'Carroll, Tom Collins, William Maynard, Egbert Moran, Noel O'Brien, Noel Heavey, Pat Croghan, Harry Rice, Tom McCormack, Michael O'Connor, Ed. It was a tribute to those present and past to see such a turnout to honour and remember those committee members from 1972.

From 5pm, Tralee’s Denny Street will be the location for a street party featuring live entertainment from local musician David Lynch. Personalised book crateEncourage the budding bookworms in your family to take pride in their books with this personalised book crate from thewildtribe.ie. Personalised book crate from the Wild Tribe, €29.95. Give yourself something fun to look forward to by booking a ticket to a Mum Talks event in the Castletroy Park Hotel on January 28. Mum Talks is an events company that aims to support, inspire, and empower women through their motherhood journey with in-person and online meet-ups, events, talks, and workshops.

A tourist who was busy staring at his phone was knocked off a mountain path by a pack mule that came up behind him on a trail. The incident took place during a climb to the Caishen Temple on Beigao Peak in Hangzhou, China, on December 26. Meanwhile, a mule carrying loaded bags and being led uphill by an elderly handler approaches the distracted tourist from behind. Several visitors rushed to help him, and the emergency services were called. The injured tourist was rushed to the hospital for treatment, although his condition has not yet been disclosed.

For the government, AI offers an opportunity to empower civil servants to focus on what matters most: better decisions, improved outcomes, and genuine public trust. Responsible AI leadership isn’t about coding; it’s about courage, accountability, and values. Public servants and elected officials must take responsibility for outcomes and communicate openly about how AI informs decisions. The moment for responsible AI leadership is now. The question isn’t whether AI can serve the public - it’s whether our leaders can serve with the integrity that makes AI worthy of public trust.

It comes as new figures showed almost eight million people in England waited more than a month to see their GP this autumn. Long waits for a GP appointment have soared under Labour with 300,000 more people waiting over a month to be seen this autumn compared to a year ago. Latest data shows 1,770,148 people waited over a month for a GP appointment in November, which is 246,625 higher than when Labour took office in July last year. The number of GP appointments has increased generally and the percentage occurring at two weeks and four weeks is largely unchanged year on year. 'GP teams have delivered 6.5 million more appointments in the last 12 months up from 378.2 million to 384.7 million with 2025 set to be a record year.'

Look, I’ve buckled down, I’ve stayed up late, and I have figured out the future. I’ll just tell you what’s going to happen to the world’s most important man. He dominated the news last year, and he’s going to do it again next year. January 2026: In a sensational development, Ireland decides to nominate Donald Trump for the next Nobel Peace Prize. This comes after everyone acknowledges the US president’s extraordinary success in resolving his ninth war within a year from his inauguration.

Idris Elba, Meera Syal and Cynthia Erivo lead star-studded New Year Honours listLuther star Idris Elba is among a host of famous faces to get gongs in the New Year Honours list, as sport stars include the Lionesses and ice dancers Torvill and DeanView 5 Images Actor and campaigner Idris Elba is knighted in the New Year Honours list (Image: Scott Garfitt/Invision/AP)Actor Idris Elba has been knighted in the New Year Honours List after leading a campaign to end youth violence. Sir Idris, who is also known for his role in The Wire and a string of Hollywood films, has been honoured for his campaigning to stamp out youth knife violence. Dame Meera, who is married to her co-star Sanjeev Bhaskar, also wrote the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical 'Bombay Dreams'. West End and Broadway star Cynthia Erivo, who shot to global stardom in Wicked, also receives an MBE for services to music and drama. Article continues belowPrime Minister Keir Starmer said: "This year's Honours list celebrates the very best of Britain - people who put the common good ahead of themselves to strengthen communities and change lives.

Many fast food favorites have what health experts consider dangerously high levels of phthalates, toxic plastic chemicals that leech into food products. These chemicals migrate from plastic packaging, manufacturing equipment like PVC conveyor belts, plastic tubing and workers' gloves during handling. Many items on PlasticList contained thousands of nanograms of other phthalates in addition to DEHP, such as DEHT and DEHA. Unlike DEHP, DEHT has shown no evidence of reproductive toxicity in rat studies and does not appear to have the same adverse effects on reproductive organs. DEHA, used in food packaging, is metabolized differently than DEHP and is generally less potent as an endocrine disruptor.

By Gráinne Ní Aodha, Press AssociationIt was “rather dubious” whether an all-island court would lead to the conviction of more fugitives, according to Ireland’s attorney general in 1982. The suggestion of a joint British-Irish court was discussed during the 1980s. In a document labelled “strictly confidential”, released this year as part of the National Archives in Dublin, Mr Connolly told the new Irish government that he was against the suggestion of an all-island court. He recounted a meeting his predecessor had with the British attorney general about extradition, joint interrogation and an “all-island court” and then gave his view, according to the memo. “It was agreed that the term ‘all-island court’ was politically sensitive and that a more appropriate title might be ‘joint court’.”– This article is based on documents contained in the file labelled 2025/125/294 in the National Archives of Ireland.

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The biggest sporting moments of 2025Michael BoltonFrom Rory McIlroy's heroics in Augusta to Kate O'Connor at the World Championships, it has been yet another memorable year for Irish sport. 2025 was a year full of drama, surprise, and heartbreak in the sporting world. As the year comes to an end, sit back and remember some of the biggest sporting moments of the year. It was also a historic month for Irish football, as both Shelbourne and Shamrock Rovers qualified for the Conference League. OctoberShamrock Rovers were League of Ireland champions once again, their fourth in five years.

‌From January 4, the snow could fall as far south as Norfolk and the middle of Wales. The Northeast was forecast to see the most snowfall, however, with anything from one to five inches expected to fall. ‌At the same time, latest weather maps showed snow was forecast to fall in the Scottish Highlands, the East coast of England, East Anglia, Wales, and even in Cornwall. View 3 Images Snow could fall as far south as London, weather maps revealed (Image: Ventusky)‌Latest weather maps show Arctic snow first hitting the UK on New Year's Eve, with Scotland mainly affected. By the end of New Year's Day, snow was forecast to fall across most of the North Sea.