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An additional £370m allocated to Northern Ireland in the Budget “falls far short of what is needed”, Finance Minister John O’Dowd has said.

He said the allocation meant that the Executive will receive only £18.8m in additional funding from Westminster this year.
Budget 2025: Extra £370m for Northern Ireland ‘far short of what is needed’, says Finance Minister
An additional £370m allocated to Northern Ireland in the Budget “falls far short of what is needed”, Finance Minister John O’Dowd has said.
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November 26, 2025 at 9:43 PM
Exclusive | Belfast could be in line for two world title fights at Windsor Park in 2026, as Lewis Crocker's camp and the Irish FA have agreed a deal in principle for the national stadium to host a pair of blockbusters in the coming year.
Deal struck for Lewis Crocker to stage two world title fights at Windsor Park in 2026
Belfast could be in line for two world title fights at Windsor Park in 2026, with Belfast Telegraph Sport learning that Lewis Crocker's camp and the Irish FA have agreed a deal in principle for the na...
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November 26, 2025 at 8:39 PM
The spat overshadowed a debate on an Assembly motion calling for free school meals for NI children.
Cara Hunter hits back after Paul Givan accuses her of being ‘absent’ while using bathroom during debate
A row has erupted at Stormont between Education Minister and the SDLP MLA Cara Hunter after she was accused of being “absent from the chamber for the past half an hour” while she went to use the bathr...
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November 26, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Irish broadcaster Miriam O’Callaghan has revealed an interview with her musical hero Van Morrison went so badly it couldn’t be aired and left her in tears.
RTE star says ‘unmitigated disaster' with Van Morrison left her ‘mortified’ and in tears: ‘I totally blame myself’
Irish broadcaster Miriam O’Callaghan has revealed an interview with her musical hero Van Morrison went so badly it couldn’t be aired and left her in tears.
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November 26, 2025 at 7:47 PM
In the past, it would have been a battlefield between loyalist and republican paramilitaries, but now the police say those groups are in cahoots with international crime gangs to sell drugs and facilitate their movement between Ireland and Great Britain.
Like a Blue Lights plot: How once rival terrorists gangs are now in cahoots to flood NI with drugs
The Bafta-winning BBC drama Blue Lights has shone a light on the flood of drugs entering Ireland and the UK, with middle-class cocaine users at the core of the plot in its new series.
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November 26, 2025 at 7:23 PM
A renewable energy plant in Northern Ireland deemed to have been operating unlawfully since 2019 must be dismantled, the Planning Appeals Commission has ruled.
Planners order unlawful energy plant to be shut down and dismantled
A renewable energy plant in Northern Ireland deemed to have been operating unlawfully since 2019 must be dismantled, the Planning Appeals Commission (PAC) has ruled.
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November 26, 2025 at 6:57 PM
The mum of a young boy with a “severe” nut allergy has slammed Ryanair’s “grave error of judgment” after continuing to serve nut-based products on a flight – despite being informed of her son’s medical issue.
Mum’s anger as nuts served on Ryanair flight despite warning of son’s 'severe’ allergy
The mum of a young boy with a “severe” nut allergy has slammed Ryanair’s “grave error of judgment” after continuing to serve nut-based products on a flight – despite being informed of her son’s medica...
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November 26, 2025 at 6:01 PM
"In a Budget where all the major changes, and even the Budget statement itself, were given away in advance, Northern Ireland will be thinking it could all have been a lot worse," writes Margaret Canning.
At best, it’s hoped the Budget hasn’t made things any worse for businesses in Northern Ireland
In a Budget where all the major changes, and even the Budget statement itself, were given away in advance, Northern Ireland will be thinking it could all have been a lot worse.
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November 26, 2025 at 5:25 PM
The head of a cash management firm has said that 100% of robberies hitting them have occurred in Northern Ireland this year, despite only 4% of their business being done here.
‘NI is 4% of our business but 100% of robberies’
The head of a cash management firm has said that 100% of robberies hitting them have occurred in Northern Ireland this year, despite only 4% of their business being done here.
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November 26, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Pipe bombs discovered in a cemetery after an Easter commemoration parade in Derry contained “ball bearings for extra shrapnel”, a court heard today.
Trial of four men over Easter parade hears recovered pipe bombs contained ‘ball bearings for extra shrapnel’
Pipe bombs discovered in a cemetery after an Easter commemoration parade in Derry contained “ball bearings for extra shrapnel”, a court heard today.
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November 26, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Match organisers in Bulgaria were left red-faced after playing God Save the King for the Republic of Ireland Under-19s on Tuesday before they took on Sweden in a Women’s European qualifier.
Major anthem gaffe as God Save the King played before Republic of Ireland Women’s Under-19 qualifier in Bulgaria
Match organisers in Bulgaria were left red-faced after playing God Save the King for the Republic of Ireland Under-19s on Tuesday before they took on Sweden in a Women’s European qualifier.
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November 26, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Detectives believe a woman who suffered serious burn injuries when she was set on fire as she answered the door to her home may not have been the primary target of the attack.
Woman set on fire as she answered door of Dublin home may not have been intended target
Detectives believe a woman (43) who suffered serious burn injuries when she was set on fire as she answered the door to her home may not have been the primary target of the attack.
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November 25, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Award-winning writer and producer Leesa Harker contemplated working as a taxi driver after a series of knockbacks made her question her future.

But now she has theatrical productions, a short film, a debut feature film and a Channel 4 sitcom pilot in the works.
Belfast writer on hit BBC show back after almost giving up on dream to take taxi job: ‘I had a word with myself...’
Award-winning writer and producer Leesa Harker contemplated working as a taxi driver after a series of knockbacks made her question her future.
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November 25, 2025 at 9:27 PM
George Best’s name should remain on Belfast City Airport, says his former wife Alex Best, despite domestic violence claims against the legendary footballer.
Belfast airport should keep George Best name, says widow Alex: ‘He’s a great ambassador for NI with football’
George Best’s name should remain on Belfast City Airport says his former wife Alex Best, despite domestic violence claims against the legendary footballer.
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November 25, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Toilets at Stormont have been deliberately flooded on six occasions in the past year, an investigation has found.
Phantom toilets flooder of Stormont has struck half a dozen times in 2025
Toilets at Stormont have been deliberately flooded on six occasions in the past year, an investigation has found.
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November 25, 2025 at 8:28 PM
A noisy neighbour who subjected a Catholic woman to sectarian abuse and intimidation is facing jail.

The victim said the 57-year-old blasted loyalist songs and directed sectarian slurs at her in their flat complex.
Nightmare neighbour facing jail after making Catholic cancer patient’s life a misery
A noisy neighbour who subjected a Catholic woman to sectarian abuse and intimidation is facing jail.
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November 25, 2025 at 7:44 PM
With Black Friday days away and Christmas looming, it’s a busy time for the Kennedy Centre in west Belfast – one of the few shopping centres here to have remained with their original owner throughout.
Belfast shopping centre boss on decades of local ownership: ‘This community is at heart of everything we do’
With Black Friday days away and Christmas looming, it’s a busy time for the Kennedy Centre in west Belfast – one of the few shopping centres here to have remained with their original owner throughout.
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November 25, 2025 at 7:07 PM
"At a time when the hospitality industry is considered volatile, this spot has thrived..."
Restaurant review: A family favourite for generations, and with these crowd-pleasers it’s easy to see why
French’s Bistro has long been an institution in this corner of County Down.
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November 25, 2025 at 6:25 PM
The news comes after the club cut ties with sponsor Mooney's Butchers on Saturday following social media backlash after using a picture of convicted sex offender Stephen Mooney to promote its youth academy.
Linfield director issues unreserved apology after ‘serious error of judgement’ in sponsorship row
Linfield's club director and vice chairman Stephen Dickson has apologised unreservedly for a "serious error of judgement" after the club cut ties with a sponsor just days after announcing their partne...
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November 25, 2025 at 5:46 PM
A Co Down woman whose young son suffered a life-threatening E. coli infection has won a High Court battle over a failure to publish an updated strategy for safeguarding Northern Ireland’s water quality on time.
Woman whose son was placed in induced coma after contracting E.coli wins court battle over water safeguarding strategy
A Co Down woman whose young son suffered a life-threatening E. coli infection has won a High Court battle over a failure to publish an updated strategy for safeguarding Northern Ireland’s water qualit...
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November 25, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Sammy Wilson was part of a delegation of unionist politicians in Northern Ireland who travelled to Israel for a six-day visit in October.

The trip was paid for by the Israeli Government and critics have accused the politicians of partaking in a “propaganda tour”.
DUP MP Sammy Wilson’s trip to Israel cost almost £4k, declaration of financial interest shows
DUP MP Sammy Wilson’s trip to Israel cost almost £4,000, according to his latest declarations of financial interest.
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November 25, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Four men have gone on trial today accused of charges linked to a dissident republican Easter commemoration parade in Londonderry more than two years ago.
Four men go on trial over dissident republican Easter commemoration parade
Four men have gone on trial today accused of charges linked to a dissident republican Easter commemoration parade in Londonderry more than two years ago.
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November 25, 2025 at 3:51 PM
A woman who was travelling in the same vehicle as a man who was struck and killed by a car has told an inquest that the deceased was “punched” before being “pushed” onto the M1 — after initially denying there was a “fist fight”.
Witness changes evidence to say man was ‘punched and pushed’ onto M1 before fatal collision
A woman who was travelling in the same vehicle as a man who was struck and killed by a car has told an inquest that the deceased was “punched” before being “pushed” onto the M1 — after initially denyi...
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November 25, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Exclusive | Less than a year after being given a three-year sentence for his role in one of the biggest drugs farms ever uncovered in Northern Ireland, brazen farmer Clive Weir is already being allowed out of jail.
Cannabis farmer seen back at home less than year into three-year jail term
Less than a year after being given a three-year sentence for his role in one of the biggest drugs farms ever uncovered in Northern Ireland, brazen farmer Clive Weir is already being allowed out of jai...
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November 25, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Exclusive | Sports Minister Gordon Lyons has advised Irish League clubs who were successful in advancing to the next round of the Northern Ireland Football Fund not to spend money on their funding projects for the time being.
Irish League clubs are told not to spend money on NI Football Fund projects amid trio’s legal action
Sports Minister Gordon Lyons has advised Irish League clubs who were successful in advancing to the next round of the Northern Ireland Football Fund (NIFF) not to spend money on their funding projects...
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November 24, 2025 at 10:03 PM