It includes a note from the executive secretariat which said there had been discussion at the previous executive meeting on January 11 about the flying of the Union flag from official buildings. The legal advice from Denis McCartney from the departmental solicitors’ office said he had “not been able to find any statutory provision relating to the flying of the Union flag”. He said research going back to 1927 indicated “it would appear that the flying of the Union flag was regarded as a prerogative matter”. But the lawyer added: “Whatever the status of this command in Great Britain, it is drafted in terms which disregard the constitutional arrangements for Northern Ireland. Later in the month the powersharing executive was suspended by then Northern Ireland secretary Peter Mandelson due to a lack of progress on IRA decommissioning.

The UK Government had published a consultation document in April which included plans for Asbos, which had already been introduced in England and Wales. Sinn Fein wrote to then NI secretary Paul Murphy over proposed anti-social behaviour laws in 2004 (PA)A Sinn Fein briefing document attached to the letter set out the concerns. It said the experience of Asbos in England and Wales showed they “have been used mainly against young people”. “Given the sectarian make-up of the PSNI and given the past and current abuse of power by a significant number of district councils, Sinn Fein has no confidence that Asbos will be implemented in a fair and impartial manner. “It has been demonstrated that restorative justice approaches are much more likely to be successful in tackling low level anti-social behaviour.

Putin has shown no inclination of moving away from his stated goals, despite Trump’s most recent assertion that a deal is “95%” at hand. You can tell us hereThe last post in DenmarkThe Danish postal service will today deliver its final letter, ending a tradition which has spanned more than 400 years. The announcement of the cessation was made earlier this year when PostNord, an amalgamation of the Swedish and Danish postal services, said it would cut 1,500 jobs and remove 1,500 red post-boxes amid the “increasing digitalisation” of Danish society. The downside of this arrangement is that customers will have to go to a Dao shop to post letters, or pay extra to have them collected from home. Danish postal services have been ongoing since 1624 and, while the Irish equivalent has not been operational quite as long, it would be a set-back for many if it were to end the same way.

ChatGPT creator OpenAI is hiring a “head of preparedness” as it looks to deal with the dangers of artificial intelligence. OpenAI has sometimes been accused of inflating the power and danger of its technology as a way of promoting its tools and encouraging investment. Several parents have already sued OpenAI after their children took their own lives after using the service. The new job will “expand, strengthen, and guide this program so our safety standards scale with the capabilities of the systems we develop,” according to OpenAI’s ad. The job will come with a salary of $555,000 as well as equity in OpenAI, according to the same ad.

The newly released State Papers relating to the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s illuminate the multiple difficulties associated with bringing the Troubles to an end. In 1983, the British ambassador in Ireland, Alan Goodison, suggested there was “a raw nerve which never sleeps” in Anglo-Irish relations. A memorandum from that year by Seán Donlon, the secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs, noted “the inadequacy of the unilateral British approach” to Northern Ireland. Given that in recent weeks legal action has been launched against the Irish State on behalf of some bereaved families over its alleged failure to carry out an “effective investigation” into those bombings, these State papers are clearly relevant to issues that remain contentious and unresolved. Given the consequences of that dark era it remains incumbent on us to understand the depth of the challenges encountered, and the shadows the legacies still cast.

Snow Patrol frontman donates £20k to Belfast soup kitchenBy Claudia Savage, Press AssociationThe lead singer of Snow Patrol, Gary Lightbody, has given £20,000 (€22,957) to a soup kitchen in Northern Ireland. A total of 72 people were estimated to be sleeping rough in Northern Ireland, representing a 60 per cent 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.

Prof Bartholomew, who was an NHS radiographer before entering higher education in 2001, moved to Northern Ireland in 2016. “The phrase that was used to me at that time was ‘from peace to prosperity’, and I think Ulster University has done a lot since I’ve been here at Ulster University, prior to me being vice- chancellor and since, so it’s a privilege to see that recognised.”Prof Bartholomew held various roles at Ulster University before becoming vice-chancellor on March 1 2020, just two weeks before campuses closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2024, Ulster University was given the UK and Ireland University of the Year Award by Times Higher Education. US president Joe Biden delivers his keynote speech at Ulster University in Belfast in 2023 (PA)“The last few years has been really transformative for Ulster University, whereby we’ve been investing in all of our campuses simultaneously,” he said. “Being Ulster University in those places, delivering for students, delivering for researchers, delivering for the economy and society is actually what we’re about.

But a last-second basket from Irish International Jordan Blount ensured that Killorglin won 47- 30 and so denied Warriors a final meeting with Limerick Celtics on scoring difference. But Celtics and AJ Williams finished the half with a flourish, draining two threes to give his side the lead approaching the half-time buzzer as the sides retired on 25 apiece. Limerick Celtics still had another basket in the arsenal with Abdul Wurie draining a two-pointer and the lead with 20.9 seconds left. Then, from the free throw line, AJ Williams scored one from two to see his side three points clear, but Patrick Lanipekun scored a basket to close the gap to a single point. Forced to foul and only two seconds left, AJ Williams secured a Limerick Celtics win in a thriller.

MEP Ciaran Mullooly has welcomed the upcoming rally to be held in Athlone. Details announced for major planned protest set to take place in AthloneFurther details have emerged of a major planned national community protest set to take place in Athlone on Saturday, January 10 (11am). The Programme for Government contains a clear commitment to oppose the Mercosur deal. Many Irish MEPs have now publicly stated they will vote against Mercosur, following the recent and powerful farmers’ protests in Brussels, Belgium. Plans for the rally are well advanced, and large crowds are expected, reflecting the depth of concern across rural Ireland.

Unai Emery shuts down Arsenal return theory ahead of big Aston Villa title clashAston Villa boss - and former Arsenal chief - Unai Emery could derail another North London Premier League title bid at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night - just like in 2024View 4 Images Former Arsenal boss Unai Emery will bid to win his 12th consecutive game for Aston Villa on Tuesday night (Image: PA)Unai Emery has insisted he feels no emotion on his Emirates Stadium return as he bids to shatter another Arsenal title dream. “Now my heart is Aston Villa,” he said on the eve of Tuesday night's major title showdown. ‌The Spaniard never came close to winning the Premier League during his unhappy 18 months in North London - and still insists his Aston Villa are not challengers now. Now, my heart is Aston Villa. “Well, that's what we want, that every opponent that comes here suffers, and we are as dominant as we were today for the majority of the game and against Villa,” Arteta said.

Which music group led by Brian Warfield announced their retirement in 2025, though it already looks like it may have been a shortlived exit? Name the British group who hit the headlines when they led a chant of “Death to the IDF” at Glastonbury? Which Irish band featured on the Bohemians FC jersey that Greta Thunberg was pictured wearing while taking part in the Gaza flotilla? Pet Sounds was an album largely credited to which Beach Boys’ musician who also passed away in 2025? Which group had a hit with the song Killeagh?

Turmeric was traditionally used to combat a plethora of health gripes relating to bone and joint health, digestive issues and skin problems. The 'Golden Spice' remains highly regarded in both Eastern and Western schools of medicine, with scientific studies proving that its active ingredient, curcumin, really does benefit our health. 'A big myth I often see in the nutrition space, especially with turmeric, is that the active ingredient curcumin is all that we need. 'But the turmeric root possesses more beneficial properties than just curcumin. Today there are numerous ways to eat turmeric; supplement capsules, ground up ready for use in cooking, and in its whole, raw, form ready to be roasted, or blended into in an immunity-boosting juice shot.

At least 25 per cent of Greece’s workforce is involved in tourism. As I write, this newspaper reports that “the number of homeless people in Ireland reaches new record high” (November 28th). One reason for this is historical: political independence (200 years ago in Greece, a century ago in Ireland) provided more than the right to self-government and self-determination. The huge difference between Ireland and Greece is, of course, sunshine and, therefore, tourism. As a result, many avoid paying tax.

File photograph: Matt KavanaghTaoiseach Charles Haughey was unhappy after a British marine allegedly put a gun to the neck of a Dubliner while he was sailing on Carlingford Lough in 1991. There were several instances where leisure boats on the disputed territory of Carlingford Lough had been approached by British patrols in the 1990s. “I was very disturbed to learn of the incident involving your boat in Carlingford Lough and I immediately conveyed my concern to the British authorities,” Haughey wrote on June 17th. The Garda file stated that as Mr Barnwell was passing by the Greenore side of the shore, he was approached by two dinghies and “two soldiers requested permission to board”. Mr Barnwell had written to Mr Haughey on June 5th about the incident, saying he, his wife and their friend “continued to shake with fear and trepidation for the remainder of the day”.

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