Belfast news

• Northern Ireland U21 3-5 Spain U21

  22-03-2018 22:48 via bbc.co.uk
  Northern Ireland's Under-21s equalise three times against Spain but fall to a 5-3 defeat in a Euro 2019 qualifying match.
  
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• PenBay Singers Spring Concert weekend

  22-03-2018 22:20
  The Penobscot Bay Singers will present "The Testament of Freedom" by Randall Thompson as the selection for the spring concert. Also performing will be the Mount View Chamber Singers.
  
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• Former PMs back NI schools campaign

  22-03-2018 21:05 via bbc.co.uk
  Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern throw their weight behind a campaign to reverse educational underachievement.
  
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• RHI inquiry: David Sterling defends Department's record

  22-03-2018 19:28 via bbc.co.uk
  Northern Ireland's most senior civil servant, David Sterling, was appearing at the RHI public inquiry.
  
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• More than 8,000 shortchanged Northern Ireland benefit claimants to get cash

  22-03-2018 19:11 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  The Department of Communities (DfC) has estimated more than 8,000 people have been underpaid employment support allowance (ESA) over the last seven years, following a damning report by the National Audit Office.
  
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• High Court challenge over planned gold mine given permission to go ahead

  22-03-2018 18:56 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  A residents group has secured permission to mount a High Court challenge over a planned gold mine in Co Tyrone.
  
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• Northern Ireland quartet out of South Korea friendly in Belfast

  22-03-2018 18:25 via bbc.co.uk
  Northern Ireland captain Steven Davis, Kyle Lafferty, Stuart Dallas and Niall McGinn will miss Saturday's friendly against South Korea.
  
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• £30m to be spent on Northern Ireland hospital waiting lists

  22-03-2018 18:04 via bbc.co.uk
  The Department of Health says the money will be targeted at inpatient and outpatient waiting times
  
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• BBC set to spend £77m on upgrade to Belfast headquarters

  22-03-2018 17:55 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  The BBC has announced it will spend £77m on an upgrade to its Belfast headquarters.
  
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• Greenier announces run for Senate

  22-03-2018 17:46
  Democrat Joe Greenier of Stockton Springs announced this week he is seeking election in Senate District 11, which includes all of Waldo County. He is challenging Rep. Erin Herbig, D-Belfast, for the Democratic nomination for the Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Mike Thibodeau, R-Winterport.
  
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• Turkey v Republic of Ireland (Fri)

  22-03-2018 17:44 via bbc.co.uk
  Republic of Ireland boss Martin O'Neill is set to give a number of new faces a chance to shine in Friday's friendly with Turkey.
  
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• Brexit: Varadkar would 'rather have the right deal in October'

  22-03-2018 17:39 via bbc.co.uk
  Irish PM suggests it could take until October to reach a deal on the Irish border after Brexit.
  
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• Four senior players ruled out for Northern Ireland’s friendly with South Korea

  22-03-2018 17:37 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  Northern Ireland have been hit by the withdrawal of four senior players including captain Steven Davis for Saturday’s friendly with South Korea.
  
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• Rugby rape trial: 'Decide on evidence, not sympathy'

  22-03-2018 17:30 via bbc.co.uk
  A defence barrister urges the jury in the trial involving two Ulster rugby players not to be swayed by prejudice.
  
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• Retired teacher Patrick Carton guilty of indecent assaults

  22-03-2018 17:23 via bbc.co.uk
  A retired maths teacher is convicted of assaulting six students he tutored outside school.
  
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• Belfast's BBC Broadcasting House to get £77m upgrade

  22-03-2018 17:11 via bbc.co.uk
  The investment announcement ends speculation that BBC NI would move to another site in the city.
  
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• Rugby rape trial: Cover-up accused Harrison 'not weasel but decent guy,' court told

  22-03-2018 16:59 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  A barrister representing a man accused of covering up a rape allegation against his childhood friend Paddy Jackson told a jury his client is "not a weasel but a decent guy" who should never have been prosecuted.
  
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• Warning for Rolling Stones fans ahead of Dublin Croke Park tickets release

  22-03-2018 16:25 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  Fans of The Rolling Stones have been issued a warning by promoters ahead of the release of tickets for their Croke Park gig.
  
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• Parents complain over gay forum poster in Catholic school

  22-03-2018 16:25 via bbc.co.uk
  A Catholic grammar is facing a complaint after a gay youth forum was advertised in the school.
  
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• Public cannabis smoking event in Belfast expected to attract hundreds

  22-03-2018 16:23 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  A Belfast councillor has called on a pro-cannabis group to cancel its planned '4/20' public cannabis smoking event in the city.
  
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• Taoiseach Varadkar gives October deadline for Brexit Irish border issue

  22-03-2018 15:59 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  A withdrawal treaty including any Irish border deal will have to be agreed by October, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar warned.
  
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• Martin McGuinness portrait unveiled at Stormont

  22-03-2018 15:43 via bbc.co.uk
  The official portrait was revealed one day after the anniversary of the former deputy first minister's death.
  
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• Martin McGuinness portrait unveiled in front of his widow and children

  22-03-2018 15:04 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  Martin McGuinness’s successor urged politicians across Northern Ireland to choose hope over fear as she unveiled a portrait of the former deputy first minister.
  
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• Carer who stole almost £11,000 from elderly woman jailed

  22-03-2018 14:36 via bbc.co.uk
  Glenda Henry stole £10,700 from her 81-year-old victim, who has since died, over an eight month period
  
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• Call for Stormont to reveal how many people underpaid benefits

  22-03-2018 13:53 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  An MLA has called on the Department of Communities (DfC) to reveal how many people in Northern Ireland have been affected by underpayments of benefits, following a damning report by the National Audit Office.
  
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• Call for FAI to 'respect and honour boundary lines' and not 'poach' Northern Ireland players

  22-03-2018 13:44 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  Concerns have been expressed in Parliament over the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) "poaching" Northern Ireland-born players.
  
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• Sinn Féin TD suspended over abortion vote

  22-03-2018 13:27 via bbc.co.uk
  Carol Nolan was among those who voted against the bill to allow the Irish abortion referendum.
  
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• PM and Irish Taoiseach to hold face-to-face meeting

  22-03-2018 13:19 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  Prime Minister Theresa May is to hold a bilateral meeting with the Irish Taoiseach in Brussels later on Thursday.
  
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• Northern Ireland council to introduce application process for bonfires

  22-03-2018 13:19 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  A Northern Ireland council is set to introduce an application process for anyone who wants to hold a bonfire on its land.
  
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• The nose knows: How a fish rendering plant's closure gave one Maine city new life

  22-03-2018 13:02
  Fish remnants and sardine cans sit in a dumpster at the former SeaPro Inc. fish rendering plant in Rockland in this 1974 photo. A truck used to transport fish remnants from sardine processors sits at the former SeaPro Inc. fish rendering plant in Rockland.
  
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• Alliance Party sets out plan to break Stormont deadlock

  22-03-2018 12:56 via bbc.co.uk
  It says NI Secretary Karen Bradley could legislate for some of the issues that divided the DUP and Sinn Féin.
  
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• Barrister for friend of rape accused rugby stars delivers closing speech

  22-03-2018 12:04 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  A barrister for a friend of two rugby stars on trial for rape has begun to deliver his closing speech to Belfast Crown Court.
  
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• The show will go on: Snow Patrol's Gary Lightbody opens up about depression and battle with the drink

  22-03-2018 11:54 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  Snow Patrol's Gary Lightbody, explaining the seven-year gap between the band's newest album and its last, has revealed how he battled alcoholism and depression and how he reached his lowest point and was pulled out of the darkness by his friends.
  
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• Belfast fashion spy: 'Saoirse Ronan’s style goes from classic and smart to bold and fun'

  22-03-2018 11:26 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  Rachel Dean checks out the style in Victoria Square, Belfast.
  
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• Dublin hotel fire investigation to begin

  22-03-2018 11:08 via bbc.co.uk
  The fire began on the 13th floor and spread to the 10th, but floors 11 and 12 did not catch fire.
  
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• Gay youth forum information 'circulated at Northern Ireland school' - parents hit out at promotion of lifestyle they 'disagree with'

  22-03-2018 11:04 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  Parents of a pupil at an all-boys' Catholic school have hit out after it was claimed information was circulated promoting a gay youth forum event to be held in Belfast.
  
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• Londonderry scheme to tackle domestic violence

  22-03-2018 10:50 via bbc.co.uk
  The nine-month pilot programme aims to change perpetrators' behaviour and reduce reoffending.
  
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• Poll: Church leaders welcome Pope's visit- should he come to Northern Ireland?

  22-03-2018 10:30 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  Senior church leaders have welcomed Pope Francis' announcement that he will visit Ireland later this year - although he is unlikely to come north of the border.
  
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• NI Newspapers: Pope trip and Paisley dominate headlines

  22-03-2018 09:42 via bbc.co.uk
  Predominant coverage to the upcoming visit of Pope Francis.
  
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• Firefighters battle Dublin hotel blaze

  22-03-2018 09:26 via bbc.co.uk
  At least five floors of a hotel in Dublin have been destroyed in a fire.
  
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• Water charges set to rise by 3% for NI businesses

  22-03-2018 08:48 via bbc.co.uk
  Northern Ireland Water is putting up charges to its 80,000 business customers from April by an average 3.35%
  
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• Midcoast middle school mat athletes lock up for pins, wins

  22-03-2018 08:21
  Scene from Camden-Rockport, in red, and Troy Howard, in gold and blue, during March 17 Pine Tree Wrestling League action in Belfast. The Pine Tree Wrestling League regular season for middle school mat athletes has taken hold, as matches began on Saturday, Feb. 24 and will continue through the championship meet on Saturday, March 31. The league includes East and West regions.
  
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• Rugby rape trial: Authorities 'let down' Stuart Olding by failing to query evidence, jury told

  22-03-2018 08:16 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  A RUGBY player at the centre of a high profile rape case has been "let down" by the authorities, a court heard yesterday.
  
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• RTE star's questions to Martin McGuinness were repulsive, says Sinn Fein's McDonald

  22-03-2018 08:10 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  RTE presenter Miriam O'Callaghan is under attack from Sinn Fein for putting tough questions to the late Martin McGuinness about his links to IRA killings.
  
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• Pay rise for MLAs blocked but Bradley unlikely to cut salaries

  22-03-2018 08:10 via belfasttelegraph.co.uk
  
  Secretary of State Karen Bradley has said she will ensure that a planned £500 pay increase for MLAs next month will not go ahead.
  
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